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I AT ONCE STRUCK OUT FOR THE SLOOP AND, REACHING IT, CLAMBERED 

on deck. Page 17. 


THE SHIP AND SHORE SERIES No. 0* 


Reuben Stone's discovery 

OR 

THE YOUNG MILLER OF TORRENT BEND 


EDWARD STRATEMEYER 

■ I 


AUTHOR OF “ RICHARD DARE’S VENTURE,” “ THE LAST CRUISE OF THE SPITFIRE, 

“ OLIVER BRIGHT’S SEARCH,” ETC. 



'y 

NOV g 1 895 

nr ~ 1L. 


NEW YORK 

THE MERRIAM COMPANY 

67 FIFTH AVENUE 


r 

t 



Copyright, 1895, 

By The Merriam Company. 


Tvpogbapiiy by C. J. Peters & Son. 
Boston. 


CONTENTS. 


? 


/> 

y 

l 

s. 

\ 

\ 


CHAPTER 

I. 

II. 

III. 

IY. 

V, 

VI. 

VII. 

VIII. 

IX. 

X. 

XI. 

XII. 

XIII. 

XIY. 

XY. 

XYI. 

XVII. 

XVIII. 


The Young Miller . . 

At the Bank 

Bah News 

Mr. Enos Norton . . . 

Hot Words 

At Rock Island . . . 

A Pitched Battle . . . 

A Blow from Behind 
The Two Strangers . . 

A Surprise 

Mr. Norton’s Move . . 

A Mjdnight Crime . . , 

At Squire Slocum’s House. 
Mr. Norton’s Statement 
Some Facts in the Case 
A Friend in Need . . . . 
Back to the Mill . . . . 
A Moment of Excitement . 


PAGE 

7 

16 

26 

33 

42 

51 

62 

69 

77 

85 

93 

100 

108 

116 

124 

133 

140 

149 


o 


6 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER PAGE 

XIX. Lively Work 157 

XX. We make a Prisoner 165 

XXI. A Storm on the Lake 173 

XXII. An Interesting Conversation 182 

XXIII. Captured 190 

XXIY. In the Woods 198 

XXY. A Miraculous Escape 204 

XX VI. The Chase 212 

XXVII. At the Depot 218 

XXVIII. The Pursuit becomes Perilous 224 

XXIX. Mr. Norton’s Accusation 230 

XXX. Norton Bixby 237 

XXXI. A Lucky Find 243 

XXXII. A Welcome Arrival 249 

XXXIII. A Happy Ending 


254 


REUBEN STONE'S DISCOVERY. 


CHAPTER I. 

THE YOIJNG MILLER. 

“It ain’t no use to talk, Rube, that bill has got to 
be paid.” Mr. James Jackson brought his fist down on 
the little desk in one corner of the mill with such 
force that everything jumped. “ I’ve waited for it 
till I’m all out of patience, and now I want my 
money.” 

“ I’m sorry, Mr. Jackson,” I replied, “very sorry 
indeed to keep you waiting ; but it cannot be helped. 
Business has been backward this summer, as you 
know, and money is tight.” 

“ It never was tight when your father was here,” 
growled the principal storekeeper of Torrent Bend, 
as he strode up and down the whitened floor. “ Every 
bill was paid on the spot.” 

“That is true, sir; but father knew the business 
was getting poorer every day, and that is the reason he 
7 


8 


REUBEN STONE’S DISCOVERY. 


left to see if he couldn’t locate in some place in the 
West.” 

“ Might better have stayed here and tended to this 
place, and not let his son run it into the ground.” 

“ I am not running the business into the ground,” 
I cried, with some show of spirit, because I thought 
the assertion an unfair one. “ I do all the grinding 
that comes in, and even go over to Bayport and down 
to Sander’s Point in the boat to get it.” 

“Pooh! don’t tell me! Young men around here 
don’t amount to much ! But that ain’t here or there. 
I came for that money.” 

“I will see if I can pay it to-day. I have a load 
of middlings to take over to Mr. Carnet this morning, 
and if he pays me I will come right down to the Bend 
and settle up.” 

“ And if he don’t pay ? ” 

“ I trust he does.” 

“Well, pay or not, I’ve got to have my money, 
and that’s all there is to it. You can’t have any more 
goods till you square accounts.” 

And having thus delivered himself, Mr. Jackson 
stamped out of the mill, jumped into his buckboard, 
and drove off for the village. 

He did not leave me in a very happy state of mind. 
I was in sole charge of the mill, and I was finding 
it hard work to make everything run smoothly. 


THE YOUNG MILLER. 


9 


Two months before, my father had departed for the 
West, with a view to locating a new mill in any spot 
that might promise well. Affairs in Torrent Bend 
were nearly at a standstill, with no prospect of im- 
proving. 

I was but sixteen years old, but I had been born 
and raised in the mill, and I understood the business 
fully as well as the average miller. 

I ground out all the wheat, corn, rye, and buckwheat 
that came to hand, took my portion of the same and 
disposed of it to the best advantage. In addition to 
this I used up all my spare time in drumming up 
trade ; and what more could any one do ? 

With the exception of my father, and an uncle 
whom I had never seen, I was alone in the world. 
My mother had died four years before, while I was 
still attending the district school, and two years later 
my twin sisters had followed her. 

These deaths had been a severe blow to both my 
father and myself. To me my mother had been all 
that such a kind and loviug parent can be, and my 
sisters had been my only playmates. 

My father and I were not left long to mourn. There 
were heavy bills to be met, and we worked night and 
day to get out of debt. 

At length came the time when all was free and 
clear, and we were nearly two hundred dollars ahead. 


10 


REUBEN STONE’S DISCOVERY. 


Then my father got it into his mind that he could 
do better in some new Western place ; and he left 
to be gone at least three months. 

For a time all worked smoothly. I had for a helper 
a young man named Daniel Ford, a hearty, whole- 
souled fellow, and we got along splendidly together; 
but one night an accident happened. 

The raceway to the mill was an old one, and a 
heavy rain-storm increased the volume of water to 
such an extent that it was partly carried away. I 
had the damage repaired at once ; but the cost was 
such that it threw us once more into debt, and made 
it necessary for me to purchase groceries from Mr. 
Jackson on credit. 

This I hated to do, knowing well the mean spirit 
of the man. But his store was the only one on this 
side of Rock Island Lake where my father was in 
the habit of purchasing, and I had to submit. 

“ Humph ! seems to me old Jackson is mighty sharp 
after his money,” observed Ford, who was at work 
in the mill, and had overheard our conversation. 

“If Mr. Carnet pays up I won’t keep him waiting.” 
I replied. “I suppose he’s entitled to his money.” 

“ If I was in your place I’d make him wait. I 
wouldn’t take any such talk without making him suf- 
fer for it. Do you want to load these bags on the 
boat now ? ” 


THE YOUNG MILLER. 


11 


“ Yes ; sixteen of them.” 

Getting out the wheelbarrow, the young fellow piled 
it high with the bags of middlings, and carted them 
down to the sloop that was tied to the wharf that 
jutted out into the lake. It was only a short distance, 
and the job was soon finished. 

“Now I’m off,” I said, as I prepared to leave. “ You 
know what to do if anything comes in while I’m gone.” 

“ Oh, yes.” 

“ And in the meanwhile you can get that flour ready 
for Jerry Moore.” 

“ I will.” 

I jumped aboard the sloop, unfastened the painter, 
hoisted the mainsail, and stood out for the other shore. 
A stiff breeze was blowing, and I was soon well 
underway. 

Rock Island Lake was a beautiful sheet of water, 
four miles wide by twelve long. Near its upper end 
was a large island covered with rough rocks, bushes, 
and immense pine-trees. On one side of it was the 
thriving town of Bayport ; and opposite, the village of 
Bend Center, situated a mile below the Torrent Bend 
River, which emptied into the lake at the spot where 
my father had located his mill. 

The two resident places were in sharp contrast to 
each other. Bend Center was a sleepy spot that had 
not increased in population for twenty years, while 


12 


REUBEN STONE’S DISCOVERY. 


Bayport, which had been settled but fifteen years, 
was all life and activity. 

Among the attractions at the latter place were three 
large summer hotels, now .crowded with boarders. 
The hotels were built upon the edge of the lake, 
and boats on fishing and pleasure trips were to be 
seen in all directions. 

On this bright morning in midsummer the scene 
was a pretty one, and had I felt in the humor I could 
have enjoyed it thoroughly. 

But I was out of sorts. As I have said, I was 
doing my best to pay off what bills were due; and 
to have Mr. Jackson, or, in fact, any one, insinu- 
ate that I didn’t amount to much, and that my father 
had made a mistake in trusting the business to me, 
cut me to the heart. 

I was but a boy, yet I was doing a man’s work, 
and doing it as manfully as I knew how. I arose 
every morning at five o’clock, and sometimes worked 
until long after sundown. 

I kept a strict account of what came in and went 
out; and looking at the account-book now, I am 
satisfied that I did as well as any one could have 
done under the circumstances. 

The work around the mill was hard, but I never 
complained. I did fully as much as Ford, and if 
at night my back ached as it never had before, no 


THE YOUNG MILLER. 


13 


one ever heard me mention it, and I was always 
ready for work on the following morning. 

During the two months that had passed I had re- 
ceived but three letters from my father. He was 
out in South Dakota, and had not yet been able to lo- 
cate to his satisfaction. In his last communication 
he had written that he was about to take a journey 
to the north, and that I need not expect to hear from 
him for two weeks or more. 

This was somewhat of a disappointment; yet I 
trusted the trip he was about to undertake would 
be a fruitful one. The whole West was booming, 
and why could we not participate in the fortunes 
to be made ? 

As the sloop sped on its way I revolved the mat- 
ter over in my mind. So busy did I become with 
my thoughts, I did not notice the freshening of the 
wind until a sudden puff caught the mainsail, and 
nearly threw the craft over on her side. 

Springing up, I lowered the sheet, and then looked 
to see if the cargo was still safe. 

Luckily Ford had placed the bags tight up near 
the cuddy, and not one had shifted. Seeing this, I 
ran the sail up again, trimmed it, and stood on my 
course. 

As I did so I saw a large sloop not a great distance 
ahead of me. It had all sails set, and was bowling 
along at a lively rate. 


14 REUBEN STONE’S DISCOVERY. 

I became interested in tlie large sloop at once. 
By the manner in which she moved along I was cer- 
tain those in charge of her did not understand the 
handling of such a craft. The mainsail and jib were 
set full, and the boom of the former was sweeping 
violently in the puffs of wind. 

“ On board the sloop ! ” I called out. “ Why don’t 
you take in some sail?” 

“We can’t!” came back the answer. “The ropes 
are all stuck fast.” 

By this time I had come up to starboard of them. 
I saw that there were two men, a woman, and a 
little boy on board. 

The two men were trying in vain to lower the sails. 
They had evidently knotted the ropes when tying 
them, and now they were so taut nothing could be 
undone. 

“What shall we do?” called the elder of the two 
men. 

“If you can’t untie the knots, cut the rope,” I 
called back, “and don’t lose any time about it.” 

One of the men immediately started to follow out 
my suggestion. I saw him draw out his pocket- 
knife, open the blade, and begin to saw on the rope. 

The next instant another puff of wind, stronger 
than any of the others, came sweeping down the 
lake. I was prepared for it, and sheered off to 
windward. 


THE YOUNG MILLER. 


15 


But the puff caught the large sloop directly 
broadside. The mainsheet and the jib filled, then the 
craft careened, and before I could realize what was 
happening, the four occupants were sent tumbling 
out into the waters of the lake. 


16 


REUBEN STONE’S DISCOVERY. 


CHAPTER II. 

AT THE BANK. 

I was both astonished and dismayed to see the 
large sloop go over and precipitate its passengers 
into the water. The catastrophe happened so 
quickly that for a moment I knew not what to do. 

Then my presence of mind came back, and I set 
promptly to work to rescue those who had gone 
overboard. In a moment I had the woman on board 
of my own craft. She was insensible. 

“Save my boy! ’’cried one of the men. “Don’t 
mind us; we can both swim.” 

“All right; I’ll do what I can,” was my reply. 

Looking about, I discovered the body of the little 
fellow some distance back. I tried to tack, but 
it could not be done, the wind being too strong 
from the opposite direction. 

“He is going down ! ” went on the father in agon- 
ized tones that pierced my heart. “ Oh, save him ! 
save him ! ” And he made a strong effort to reach the 
spot himself ; but the weight of his clothes was against 
him, and I knew he could not cover the distance before 


AT THE BANK. 


IT 


it would be too late. I was a first-class swimmer, 
and in a second had decided what to do. 

With a bang I allowed the mainsail to drop, and 
threw over the anchor, which I knew would catch on 
the rocky bottom twelve or fifteen feet below. 

Then I kicked off my boots, ripped off my vest 
and coat, and sprang to the stern. A single glance 
showed me where the boy had just gone down, and 
for this spot I dived head first. 

I passhd under the water some ten or a dozen feet. 
When I came to the surface I found the little fel- 
low close beside me. He was kicking at a terrible 
rate, and I could see he had swallowed considerable 
of the fresh liquid of which the lake was constituted. 

“ Don’t kick any more,” I said ; “ I will save you. 
Here, put your arms around my neck.” 

“ I want papa and mamma,” he cried, spitting out 
some of the water. 

“ I’ll take you to them if you’ll do as I tell you.” 

Thus reassured, the little fellow put his arms around 
my neck. I at once struck out for the sloop, and 
reaching it, clambered on deck. As I did so the 
woman I had saved seemed to come to her senses, 
and rising to her feet she clasped the boy in her 
arms. 

“ My Willie ! my darling Willie ! ” she cried. 
“ Thank God you are saved ! ” 


18 


REUBEN STONE’S DISCOVERY. 


“Yes, mamma; that big boy saved me. Wasn’t it 
good of him?” 

“ Yes, indeed, my child! ” 

Looking around, I discovered that the two men 
were clinging to the keel of the large sloop, which 
had now turned bottom upwards. I pulled up the 
anchor, hoisted the sail again, and was soon alongside. 

“ Here you are ! ” I called out, throwing them a 
rope by which they might come on board. 

“ Did you save my son ? ” demanded the elder one 
anxiously. 

“ Yes, William ; he is safe,” returned the woman. 

“ All right ; then we’ll come aboard too,” said the 
man. “ Here, Brown, you go first. This accident is 
entirely my fault.” 

“No more yours than mine,” returned the man 
addressed, as he hauled himself up over the stern. 
“It was I who wanted to go out without a man to 
manage the boat, Mr. Markham.” 

“ Yes ; but I tied the knots in the ropes,” was the 
reply, as the elder man also came on board. 

They were all well-dressed people, and I rightly 
guessed that they were boarders at one of the hotels 
at Bayport. 

“Well, young man, it was lucky you came along,” 
said Mr. Markham, turning to me. “You have 
saved at least two lives.” 


AT THE BANK. 


19 


He was still excited, and put the case rather 
strongly. 

“ Oh, no, I didn’t ! ” I protested. “ I only picked 
you up. Any one would have done that.” 

“Didn’t you jump overboard and rescue my son?” 

“Well, yes; but that wasn’t much to do.” 

“ I think it was a good deal. If my son had gone 
down I would never have wanted to go back. All 
of us owe you a deep debt of gratitude.” 

“Yes, indeed!” burst out Mrs. Markham. “What 
would I have done without my precious Willie ? ” 
And she strained the little fellow to her breast. 

The situation was both novel and uncomfortable 
for me. I had but done my duty, and I didn’t see 
the use of making such a fuss over it. 

“Where are you bound?” I asked, by way of 
changing the subject. 

“We started for a trip down the lake about an 
hour ago,” replied Mr. Markham. “ Will you take 
us back to Bayport ? ” 

“Certainly; that is just where I am bound. But 
what do you intend to do with your sloop?” 

“Leave her adrift. I never want to see the craft 

again.” And Mr. Markham shuddered. 
e> 

“ She can easily be righted,” I went on. 

“ If you want her, you may have her. I will pay 
the present owner what she is worth.” 


20 


REUBEN STONE’S DISCOVERY. 


“Thank you; I’ll accept her gladly,” I cried; “hut 
.it won’t cost much to bring her around, and hadn’t 
you better pay her owner for the damage done, and 
let him keep her ? ” 

“No; I’ve given her to you, and that’s settled.” 

“ Then let me thank you again, sir,” I said warmly, 
greatly pleased at his generosity. 

“ Humph ! it isn’t much. May I ask who you 
are?” 

“I am Reuben Stone. I run my father’s mill over 
at Torrent Bend River.” 

“ Indeed ! Rather young to run a mill alone.” 

“I have a man to help me. I was brought up 
about the place.” 

“I see. My name is William Markham. I am in 
the dry-goods trade in New York. This is my wife 
and my son Willie, and this is Mr. Brown, an inti- 
mate friend.” 

I acknowledged the various introductions as best 
I could. Every one was wet, and scarcely present- 
able ; but in that particular we were all on a level, 
and I did not feel abashed. 

We were now approaching the Bayport shore, and 
Mr. Markham asked me to stop at the hotel’s private 
wharf, which I did. 

“Will you come up to the hotel with us?” he 
asked. 


AT THE BANK. 


21 


“I’m not in condition,” I laughed. “I had better 
be about my business.” 

“No, no; I want you to stay here,” he returned 
quickly. “I want to see you just as soon as I can 
change my clothes.” 

“ Suppose I come back in half an hour?” 

“ That will suit me very .well.” 

After the party had landed I skirted the shore until 
I came to the business portion of the town. Here I 
tied up, and made my way at once to Mr. Carnet’s 
flour and feed store. 

“Well, Rube, got that middlings for me?” he ex- 
claimed as I entered. 

“Yes, sir; sixteen bags.” 

“All right. Just pile them up in the shed on the 
wharf. I'll go down with you. How much?” 

“ I would rather you would see them before I set 
a price,” I returned. “I am afraid some of the bags 
are pretty wet.” 

“I don’t want wet bags. How did it happen?” 

I related what had occurred. By the time I had 
finished we had reached the wharf. 

“ My ! my ! ” exclaimed the flour-dealer. “ Mr. 
Markham! I know him. He is one of the richest 
men at the Grand. So he said you could have the 
boat. She is worth a couple of hundred dollars.” 

“Yes, and a hundred added. He is more than 


generous. 


22 


REUBEN STONE’S DISCOVERY. 


“He can afford it, I suppose.” 

“Here are the bags,” I went on. “Ten of them 
are dry.” 

“ Those I’ll give you regular price for, — dollar and 
a half.” Mr. Carnet examined the others. “ Suppose 
we make the six a dollar each ? ” 

“Can’t you make it a dollar and a quarter?” 

“No; a dollar is all they are worth to me.” 

“Very well. When do you want more?” 

“Any time next week,” replied the flour-merchant, 
handing over the twenty-one dollars that were due me. 

“All right. I’ll be over Tuesday. Want anything 
else?” 

“Not for the present. Trade is rather slow.” 

Putting the money in my pocket-book, I entered 
my sloop again, and steered for the hotel wharf. I 
found Mr. Markham already awaiting me. 

“Just tie up here and come with me,” he said. 

I did so, and we walked along the principal street 
of Bayport, which at this hour of the day was nearly 
deserted. 

“ I am going to the bank on business,” he went on 
with a twinkle in his eye. “This is my last day 
here, and I want to draw out the deposit I made for 
convenience’ sake when I came.” 

I did not see what this had to do with me, but 
said nothing. 


AT THE BANK. 


23 


We soon reached the bank, which, in contrast with 
the many fine buildings in the place, was a dilapidated 
structure. We entered the main office; and here Mr. 
Markham asked me to wait while he held a brief 
consultation with the president. 

I waited for half an hour. During that time many 
people came and went; but I knew none of them. 
The janitor eyed me sharply, and finally asked me 
what I wanted. 

His tone was a rough one, and I replied curtly 
that I was waiting for a gentleman who had gone 
in to see the president; then I turned on my heel, 
and walking outside, stood on the pavement. It was 
not until some time later that I found out how 
suspicious my actions had been regarded. 

Presently Mr. Markham came down the steps in 
a hurry. He was pale with anger, and his eyes 
flashed with indignation. 

46 It is an outrage ! an abominable outrage ! ” he 
ejaculated. 

I was rather surprised, and could not refrain from 
asking what was the trouble. 

“You would hardly understand it, Reuben,” he re- 
plied. “I made a deposit in this bank under rather 
peculiar circumstances, and now President Webster 
refuses to allow me to draw the balance due me 
until certain matters are adjusted.” 


24 


REUBEN STONE’S DISCOVERY. 


“I hope you don’t lose by it.” 

“I won’t lose much. But that isn’t the point. 
I expected to reward you for what you have done for 
me, and now I am not able to do so.” 

“I don’t expect any reward, sir.” 

“Nevertheless, I shall do what is right.” 

“ The sloop is worth several hundred dollars. That 
is more than I deserved.” 

“I don’t think so. Every time I think of what 
might have happened to my wife and my little son I 
cannot help hut shudder. Brown and I ought never 
to have ventured out without a man to sail the boat. 
We have learned a lesson that we shall not forget 
in a hurry.” 

“It was a risky thing to do in this wind, sir.” 

“It was. But about this reward — ” 

“I don’t want any reward, sir. The value of the 
s sloop is more than I deserve.” 

“Nevertheless, you shall hear from me in the near 
future.” 

On this point Mr. Markham remained firm, and 
a quarter of an hour later we parted, I hoping that 
none of the party would suffer any from the involun- 
tary bath. 

I jumped aboard the sloop, feeling on particularly 
good terms with myself. As I sped away from Bay- 
port I began to calculate on what the large sloop 


AT THE BANK. 


25 


would net me at a sale. Certainly not less than 
two hundred and fifty dollars; and this would clear 
off the bill for repairs at the mill, and leave me a 
hundred dollars ahead. In my present straitened cir- 
cumstances this amount would be a perfect windfall. 

I tried to steer for the overturned craft, and tow 
her to a safe place, where I might right her and fix 
her up. 

The wind was as fresh as ever, and I had to steer 
with care, lest the standing-room should get filled 
with water from the waves that dashed over the bow. 
To a person not used to the lake the passage would 
have been a rough one, but I was accustomed to 
far worse weather, and did not mind it. 

At length I reached the spot where the catastrophe 
had occurred, and looked around. 

The large sloop had disappeared. 


26 


REUBEN STONE’S DISCOVERY. 


CHAPTER III. 

BAD NEWS. 

For a moment I could not believe the evidence 
of my own eyes. I had fully expected to find the 
large sloop in the spot I had left her, held there 
by the anchor that must have fallen from the deck. 
But she was gone, and a rapid survey of the sur- 
rounding water convinced me that she was nowhere 
within a quarter of a mile, 

This discovery was a dismaying one; yet it did 
not entirely dishearten me. 

The sloop had probably drifted to the lower end of 
the lake, somewhere near the Ponoco River, which 
was its outlet. I would no doubt find her beached 
in the vicinity of the south shore. 

I at once turned and sped away in that direction. 
The distance was about two miles, and in half an 
hour I had covered it, and skirted the shore for a 
considerable length. 

The large sloop was nowhere to be seen. 

I was now really worried. Was it possible that 
some one had found the craft, and towed her off ? 


BAD NEWS. 


27 


It seemed more than probable. The situation was 
unpleasant, to say the least. The sloop was now 
my property just the same as if I had purchased her, 
and I did not like the idea of any one making off 
with her, and then setting up a claim against me for 
so doing. 

I spent two hours in my search for the craft, but 
without success. By this time it was well on in the 
afternoon, and it became necessary for me to return 
to the mill. 

With something like a sigh, I tacked about, and 
started on the return, resolved to continue the search 
at daylight on the following day. 

In sailing up the lake to the spot where the Tor- 
rent Bend emptied, I had to pass Bend Center; and 
I decided to tie up at the village, and settle up with 
Mr. Jackson, who was so afraid I was going to cheat 
him. 

There was a trim harbor at this spot, and into this 
I ran and lowered the mainsail. 

“ Hullo, Rube ! ” I suddenly heard some one call ; 
and looking up, I beheld Tom Darrow, an old fisher- 
man that I knew well, seated at the other end of 
the pier, smoking his pipe. 

“ Hullo, Tom!” I returned. “Through work for 
the day?” 

“Yes.” 


28 


REUBEN STONE’S DISCOVERY. 


“How’s the catch?” 

“Pretty poor, Rube. Too windy for pickerel,” 
returned Tom, as he arose and knocked some ashes- 
from the top- of his pipe-bowl. 

“ I suppose it is.” 

“ Where have you been ? ” he went on, coming to 
where I was tying up. 

“ Over to Bayport with a load of middlings.” 

“ That so ? Thought I see you coming up the 
lake.” 

“ I’ve been down looking for a sloop that cap- 
sized,” I returned. “Did you see anything of her?” 

“ What kind of a sloop ? ” 

“ A large one, painted blue and wdiite, and named 
the Catch Me. I believe she used to belong to some 
one in Bayport.” 

“No, I didn’t see her; that is, I don’t think I did. 
I saw some fellows towing something up the lake 
about an hour ago. But I thought that was a raft.” 

I was interested at once. 

“Are you sure it was a raft?” 

“ Oh, no ; come to think of it, it didn’t look very 
much like a raft, either. You see, it was out pretty 
far, and I wasn’t paying much attention.” 

“Who were the fellows?” 

“I don’t know. They had a pretty smart-looking 
craft, but whose it was I couldn’t make out.” 


BAD NEWS. 


29 


My heart sank at Tom Darrow’s words. I was 
certain that the supposed raft was nothing less than 
the Catch Me. The question was, what had the 
men who found her done with her? 

“ What makes you so interested in the sloop ? ” 
went on Tom curiously. 

“ She belongs to me, Tom.” 

u What ! Where did you ever raise money enough 
to buy her?” 

“ I didn’t buy her ; she was given to me.” 

Tom Darrow was more taken aback than ever. I 
enjoyed his amazement, and told my story. 

“I declare, Rube, you’re quite a hero, and no mis- 
take ! ” cried the fisherman. “ So he gave you the 
sloop for the job? It was money easily earned.” 

“It wasn’t earned at all, Tom. But the question 
is, what has become of the craft? Unless I find her 
she won’t do me any good.” 

“ True enough ; but you are sure to find her sooner 
or later. She can’t leave the lake very well, and 
all you’ve got to do is to keep your eyes open.” 

“ I don’t know about that,” I replied, shaking my 
head. “ They might change her rigging a bit, and 
paint her over, and I would have a job recognizing 
her.” 

“ So they might if they were sneaks enough to do 
so ; and I reckon some of them north-enders ain’t too 
good to try it on. Tell you what I’ll do.” 


80 


REUBEN STONE’S DISCOVERY. 


“ What?” 

“ I’ll try to hunt her up for you.” 

“ Will you ? I’ll pay you for your trouble, Tom.” 

“ Don’t want no pay, Rube. You’ve done me many 
a good turn, and so did your father when he was 
here. I’ll take a trip around the lake first thing to- 
morrow.” 

“ And so will I. Between the two of us we ought 
to discover something.” 

After this we arranged our plan. Darrow was to 
start from the Bend, and go up the west shore, while 
I was to come down from the mill, and investigate 
along the east shore. At noon we were to meet 
at Bayport and compare notes. 

“ By the way,” said he, when this matter was fin- 
ished, “heard from your father lately?” 

“ I expect a letter next week,” I replied. “ He is 
out in South Dakota. He hasn’t located yet.” 

“ Hope he strikes it rich when he does,” concluded 
Darrow. “ No man in these parts deserves it more.” 

Leaving the pier, I made my way to Mr. Jackson’s 
store, which, as I have said, was the largest at the 
Bend. 

I found the merchant behind the counter, weigh- 
ing out sugar. 

“Well, have you come to settle up?” he asked 
shortly. 


BAD NEWS. 


31 


“ I have come to pay some on account,” I replied. 

u How much?” 

44 Twenty-one dollars.” 

44 Why don’t you pay the whole bill of twenty-four, 
and be done?” 

“Because I haven’t so much. Some of the mid- 
dlings I sold Mr. Carnet got wet, and I had to make 
a reduction.” 

“Humph! Well, hand over the money. Every 
little helps. But I can’t trust out any more goods 
till the entire amount is settled.” 

And Mr. Jackson placed twenty-one dollars in the 
drawer, and gave me credit on his books. 

I walked out somewhat downcast. I had wanted 
several things in the shape of groceries, and with no 
money to purchase them what was I to do? 

As I walked down the one street of the village, 
I passed the post-office. Mr. Sandon, the post-mas- 
ter, was at the window, and he tapped for me to 
come in. 

“A letter just came for you,” he said. And he 
went behind the counter and handed it over. 

For an instant my heart gave a bound of pleas- 
ure as I thought it must be a letter from my father ; 
then I saw that the handwriting was strange, and I 
opened the epistle, wondering what it could contain. 

It was dated at Huron, South Dakota, and ran as 
follows : — 


32 


REUBEN STONE'S DLSCOVERY. 


My dear Nephew Reuben, — You will no doubt be very 
much surprised to hear from an uncle whom you have never 
seen, but circumstances make it necessary that I should address 
this letter to you. I wish that my first lines to my nephew 
might be brighter, but our wishes cannot always be fulfilled, and 
we must bear up bravely under all trials that come to us. 

Hear, then, the sad news that your father is dead. He lost his 
life by falling down a deep ravine on the morning of the 10th 
instant. We were out prospecting for a good mill location, and 
he slipped, and, before I could come to his aid, plunged headlong 
to the bottom. When I reached him he was unconscious, and 
lived but a short hour after. I am now arranging to have him 
buried to-morrow, and shall then follow this letter to Bend Center, 
to take charge of his affairs. 

As you perhaps know, I met your father in Chicago. I loaned 
him quite a sum of money, and we went to South Dakota together. 
But of this and other important matters we will speak when we 
meet, which will be shortly after you receive this letter. 

Affectionately your uncle, 

Enos Norton. 

P. S. I would not speak of money matters in such a letter 
as this, but I cannot afford to lose that which I have advanced. 
I trust the mill is in good running order. 

I could hardly finish the communication. I became 
so agitated that all the lines seemed to run into each 
other. Mr. Sandon noticed how I was disturbed. 

“ Anything wrong, Rube ? ” he asked kindly. 

“ My father is dead ! ” I gasped out, and sank down 
on a box completely overcome. 


MR. ENOS NORTON. 


33 


CHAPTER IV. 

MR. ENOS NORTON. 

For a long time I sat on the box in the little vil- 
lage post-office. I could think of nothing but that 
my father was dead. 

The shock of the news, coming as it did so unex- 
pectedly, completely staggered me. The only parent 
that had been left to me was gone, and I was left 
to fight the battle of life alone. 

44 It’s too bad, Rube; that’s- a fact,” said Mr. Sandon, 
laying his hand on my shoulder. 44 What ailed him?” 

44 Nothing. He met with an accident,” I replied, 
struggling hard with the lump that seemed bound to 
rise in my throat. 44 He fell over a ravine while look- 
ing for a place to locate a mill. You can read the 
letter if you wish.” 

44 1 will.” 

Mr. Sandon adjusted his spectacles, and read the 
letter carefully. While he did so I sat with my 
head buried in my hands, trying to hide the tears 
that would not stop flowing. 

44 This is from your Uncle Enos Norton, I see,” 


34 


REUBEN STONE’S DISCOVERY. 


he went on. “I thought Enos Norton was dead long 
ago.” 

“ I have never seen him,” I replied. 

“He used to be around these parts years ago when 
he was a young man ; but he got a sudden notion 
to go West, and he went. He loaned your father 
some money, it appears.” 

“So he says. I don't know what for. Father 
took enough along to pay his expenses,” I returned 
despondently. 

“ Maybe he made a venture of some kind or an- 
other. A man is apt to risk more when he strikes 
a new country.” 

I made no reply to this remark. My heart was 
too full for further talk, and leaving the post-office 
I walked slowly back to my boat. 

If the prospect before had been gloomy it was now 
worse. The pang over the news of my father’s death 
overshadowed everything else ; yet I could not help 
but remember that my uncle was soon to arrive, and 
that my father’s estate was indebted to him for 
money loaned. 

Entering my sloop, I was soon on the way to Tor- 
rent Bend River. The wind was still fresh, and I 
skirted the shore rapidly, arriving in sight of the 
mill at sundown. 

Ford stood at the door awaiting me. 


MR. ENOS NORTON. 


35 


“ Been a little longer than you expected,” he said. 
44 Anything wrong ? ” 

44 Yes, Dan ; everything is wrong,” I replied. 
44 Read that letter.” 

He did so; and somehow it was a comfort to see 
his eyes grow moist. 

44 Dead! ” he exclaimed, and then he caught me by 
the shoulder. 44 Rube, I can’t say how sorry I am 
for you ; there ain’t words strong enough to tell it.” 
And without another word he led me into the mill. 

We passed a rather silent evening. Ford was in 
the habit of leaving as soon as the day’s work was 
over, but that night he remained. He was the first 
up in the morning, and when I came down I found 
breakfast already prepared. 

44 Come, Rube, have a strong cup of coffee,” he 
said. 44 1 know you haven’t slept a wink. I hardly 
got a nap myself, thinking matters over. Do you 
know anything about this uncle that’s coming?” 

44 Nothing but that he was my mother’s brother.” 

44 He seems to be mighty anxious about his money,” 
went on the mill-hand, who was always outspoken in 
his opinions. 

44 Well, I suppose he is entitled to what is due him.” 

44 He might have waited till he got here. Wonder 
when he will arrive ? ” 

44 I’m sure I don’t know.” 


36 


REUBEN STONE’S DISCOVERY. 


I was utterly cast down, and could not do a stroke 
of work. I took a walk up the river, and sat 
down on a rock to think the whole matter over. 

It was two hours later before I rose to go back. 
The time had been a bitter one ; but now I felt bet- 
ter, and was ready to face whatever was to come. 

When I arrived at the mill I found Ford hard at 
work. Tom Darrow had just tied up at the pier, 
and my helper had told him the sad news. 

“ It’s hard, Rube, dreadful hard, and no mistake,” 
he said. 

Later on he told me he had sailed around the 
lake, and into many of the coves, but had seen no 
trace of the Catch Me. I was sorry to hear this, 
but in the light of the greater calamity I hardly gave 
the matter any attention. 

“ I suppose you didn’t think to get them things 
you -spoke on?” observed Ford when the fisherman 
was gone. 

“ What things ? ” I asked. 

“ The groceries you were going to get down to 
Jackson’s.” 

“ He wouldn’t let me have them. He said I 
would have to settle up in full before I could have 
anything more.” 

“The miserly chump !” exclaimed Ford; “ and after 
you paying him hundreds of dollars ! I wouldn’t pat- 
ronize him any more ! ” 


MR. ENOS NORTON. 37 

“ I don’t intend to.” I paused for a moment. 
“ Dan, I am in a bad fix all around. I haven’t any 
money, and we need things. I don’t know how I 
am going to pay you your wages next Saturday.” 

“ W ell, don’t let that worry you, Rube ; I can get 
along.” 

“ But that’s not the point. It isn’t fair to ask you 
to wait,” I went on earnestly. 

“I ain’t starving,” he laughed. “I’ve got some 
little saved. Besides, when you find the Catch Me, 
she’ll be worth at least a couple of hundred dollars 
to you.” 

“ That’s so ; but I imagine finding her will be a 
bigger job than I thought it would be. I am satis- 
fied that some one has towed her off, and has got her 
in hiding.” 

There was quite a bit of grinding to do at the 
mill, and after a dinner of which I hardly ate a 
mouthful, I started in to help Ford do the work. 

It was the best possible thing I could undertake ; 
for it diverted my mind, and that eased my heart, 
which felt at times like a big lump of lead in my 
breast. 

As I tended to the hoppers and helped fill the 
bags I began to speculate upon what kind of a man 
my uncle would prove to be. The tone of his let- 
ter, as I read it over again, did not exactly satisfy 


38 


REUBEN STONE’S DISCOVERY. 


me. What did he mean by stating that he intended 
to take charge of affairs ? 

At five o’clock I heard the sound of a horn com- 
ing from the main road that ran from Harborport 
through the Bend to Kannassee, ten miles distant. 

“ There’s the horn of the stage-coach,” said Ford. 
“ Bart Pollock must want to see you.” 

“ Perhaps he’s after some feed,” I replied. “I’ll 
go down and see.” 

Brushing the flour from my face and hands, I left 
the mill on a run. The main road was fifteen rods 
away through the bushes. There was a rough path 
but little used, and this I followed. 

When I arrived I found the stage-coach standing 
in the middle of the road, with Bart Pollock, the 
driver, sitting contentedly on the front seat along 
with a tall stranger. 

“ Here I am, Bart ! ” I sang out. “ What’s wanted ? ” 

“ Hullo, Rube ! Nothin’s wanted. Here’s a visitor 
to see you, — your uncle, all the way from Western 
parts.” 

“ Oh ! ” 

I stopped short to look at the man as he hopped 
to the ground. He was slimly built, with a thin, 
sharp face, and cold gray eyes. He carried a hand- 
satchel, and this he swung from his right to his left 
hand as he came forward to greet me. 


MR. ENOS NORTON. 


39 


“So this is my nephew Reuben?” he said in a 
high voice, as we shook hands. “I suppose you’ve 
been expecting me ? ” 

“Not quite so soon,” I replied. “ I thought you’d 
come in a day or two, sir.” 

“Well, I made first-class time. The train left half 
an hour after the funeral was over, and I didn’t see 
no use in hanging around any longer. I settled all 
the bills beforehand. They were mighty high too. 
A hundred and twenty-five dollars for the coffin 
and carriage, and fifty dollars for the ground, be- 
sides twenty-five for the undertaker, which brings 
the whole up to two hundred dollars.” 

By this time the stage-coach was on its way again, 
and we were left standing alone. 

“Tell me about my father,” I said. “I want to 
know all about how the awful thing happened.” 

“ Now, don’t be so fast, Reuben ; there’s lots of 
time. Wait till I’ve had supper, and got rested up 
a bit. Traveling don’t seem to agree with me. How 
are things at the mill ? ” 

“ Rather slow, sir.” 

“ What ! you must be fooling ! ” 

“No, I am not. Trade all around has been slack 
this summer.” 

“Humph! That must be because you are only a 
boy. Just you wait till I get to managing things, 
then I guess business will hum.” 


40 


REUBEN STONE’S DISCOVERY. 


“I do the best I can,” I replied, not liking to be 
talked to in this fashion. 

44 Of course, of course ; but then you’re nothing 
but a boy, and a boy can’t do half as well as a man.” 

44 1 am doing as well as any one in these parts. I 
go ’way over to Bayport for orders.” 

Mr. Norton started slightly. 

“Bayport?” he queried. 

“Yes, sir.” 

44 Well, that ain’t very far.” 

“It is farther than father used to go.” 

44 Well, your father wasn’t any great hand for busi- 
ness, I guess.” 

“Father was always ready to do his best,” I re- 
turned warmly, not liking the manner in which my 
father’s character had been assailed. 44 He was not 
responsible for the dull times here.” 

44 Maybe ; but business is just what a man makes it.” 

44 Are you a miller, sir?” 

44 No, I ain’t; but I guess it won’t take a man 
like me long to learn the business.” 

I had my doubts concerning the truth of the last 
assertion. I had been around a mill all my life, and 
yet there was hardly a day passed but what some 
new difficulty presented itself. 

44 You see, I’m a self-made man,” went on Mr. Nor- 
ton. “I left home long before my sister Mary had 


MR. ENOS NORTON. 


41 


married your father. I went out to Chicago, and all 
the money I have I made there without help from 
any one.” 

“Are you rich?” I ventured. 

“ Oh, no ; but I’m comfortable, — that is, I will be 
when I get back the money I loaned your father.” 

“Father couldn’t have borrowed much.” 

“ What? ” cried Mr. Norton. “ That is all you know 
about it. He came to me pretty often ; and that 
money, added to the funeral expenses, made a good 
round sum.” 

“How much?” I asked faintly. 

“All told, it’s just six hundred and fifty dollars,” 
was the reply. 


42 


REUBEN STONE’S DISCOVERY. 


CHAPTER Y. 

HOT WORDS. 

I cannot say that my first impression of Mr. 
Enos Norton was a favorable one. His manner was 
domineering, and evidently he intended to conduct 
matters to suit himself. 

He knew nothing at all about running a mill, yet 
he expected to take sole charge. This, to say the 
least, was peculiar. 

His assertion that my father’s estate was indebted 
to him to the amount of six hundred and fifty dollars 
astonished and dismayed me. What had my parent 
done with the greater part of this? and how was I 
ever to settle up? 

The mill property as it now stood was not worth 
over twelve hundred dollars, and at a forced sale it 
was not likely that it would bring half that sum. 
How, then, was his claim to be met? and, when all 
was settled, what was to become of me? 

By the time I had asked myself these questions 
we had reached the mill. Here I introduced Ford, 
and the three of us entered. 


HOT WOttDS. 


43 


“Not such a good place as I expected to find,” 
remarked Mr. Norton, examining first one thing and 
then another. “'You don’t seem to keep things in 
very good order.” 

“ W e keep them in as good order as possible. Many 
of the things are worn so much that they cannot be 
repaired,” I replied. 

“And it takes work to fix things up,” he added, 
with a hard look. 

I did not reply, and I saw Ford toss his head. 

“Well, let us go into the house part,” went on 
Mr. Norton. “I’m fearfully hungry. Got anything 
good?” 

“I can give you some fried fish, bread and butter, 
and some blackberries,” I said, as I led the way into 
the living-room. 

“ Ain’t you got no coffee ? ” 

“Yes, sir.” 

“ Then those things will do first rate. I’m fear- 
fully hungry. Didn’t have a mouthful since this 
morning. Make the coffee good and strong.” 

“I will, Mr. Norton:” 

“Don’t call me Mr. Norton. I’m your Uncle Enos.” 

“All right, Uncle Enos; I’ll try to remember.” 

I went into the cook-shed, and began to prepare 
supper. I did not feel in good-humor, and my face 
must have shown it, for when Ford came in he re- 
marked, — 


44 


REUBEN STONE’S DISCOVERY. 


“Your uncle ain’t going to play second fiddle to 
nobody, is he ? ” 

I shrugged my shoulders without replying. The 
prospects ahead were i^ot very bright. 

Presently I had to go into the living-room to get 
some spices out of the pantry. I found Mr. Norton 
in the act of taking a deep pull from a small black 
flask. 

“ My blackberry brandy,” he said, by way of an ex- 
planation. “ I have to take it for a weak stomach.” 

u Are you sickly?” I asked. 

“ Somewhat.” 

I went out again; but through the crack of the 
door I saw him take another pull at the flask, and 
then put it in his pocket. 

This was another action that I did not like. About 
the Bend were a number of men who spent every 
cent of their money for drink, and this had led me 
to become strictly temperate. 

At length the meal was ready, and I set it on the 
table, and called in Ford. We sat down, and Mr. 
Norton helped himself to a liberal portion. 

“ Why don’t you take hold ? ” he asked, seeing that 
I scarcely touched a thing. 

“I don’t feel like eating,” I replied. “I am waiting 
to hear about my father.” 

“Oh, well, then, I’ll give you the whole story. We 


HOT WORDS. 


45 


started out from Hamner’s Gulch one bright morning 
to go up what is known as the Black Hawk Ravine. 
Your father had an idea that he could set up a saw- 
mill there if a grinding-mill didn’t pay.” 

“He never said anything about a saw-mill to me,” 
I put in. 

“ Your father was a very queer man,” said Mr. Nor- 
ton. “Did he say anything about me in his letters, 
or about the money he borrowed ? ’ ’ 

“Not a word.” 

“ I thought so. Guess he was ashamed of the money 
he let fty, traveling to this place and that, and paying 
a holding price down on half a dozen spots, # and then 
letting them go.” 

“ But about the journey ? ” I said, anxious to get 
back to the particulars of my father’s death, which 
just now interested me more than anything else. 

“Oh, yes! Well, we started out for the ravine, 
and we reached it about two o’clock in the afternoon. 
It was a wild spot, and I was for going back ; but 
your father wanted to go ahead, and he did so, I 
following.” 

“ And was that where he lost his life ? ” 

“Exactly. He was ahead, and by six o’clock it 
was getting dark. I called out to him to be careful, 
as we were then walking along a narrow ledge, and 
far below was a mountain torrent, ten times worse 
than this one you have here.” 


46 


REUBEN STONE’S DISCOVERY. 


“ And this was the ledge he fell over ? ” 

Mr. Norton nodded. 

I shuddered. In imagination I could see my father 
going over, and clutching out vainly to save himself. 
It was a horrible thought. 

“Yes, he went over. It was no use to try to save 
him, though I did spring forward. He went down, 
and struck on his head.” 

“You went after him at once?” 

“ Of course ; as quick as I could. He was alive yet, 
but he didn’t live very long ; just long enough to set- 
tle up his private matters, and put me in charge of his 
affairs.” 

“ How is that ? ” 

“ He made me write it out on a bit of paper, and 
then he signed it. I didn’t want to do it, but he said 
I was his only relative, and I must.” 

“Then he wanted you to take entire charge of his 
affairs ? ” I asked. 

“That’s it. In other words, I was to become your 
guardian, Reuben.” 

My heart sank at these words. As I have said, I 
did not take to my newly arrived relative from the 
start, and it was not a pleasant thought that in fu- 
ture he was to have full power over me. I heartily 
wished that my twenty-first birthday was at hand. 

“ I take it your father wasn’t no great business 


HOT WORDS. 


47 


man,” went on Mr. Norton, helping himself to more 
fish and another cup of coffee. “ The state of affairs 
here shows that he wasn’t. He would have done bet- 
ter by remaining here than by going West as he did.” 

This was not the first time that this man had said 
things derogatory to my father’s memory, and it made 
me angry. 

“I think my father knew his own business best,” 
I cried. “ He knew all about milling, and you don’t 
know a thing.” 

“Don’t talk to me in this style,” cried Mr. Norton, 
turning quickly. “ What I’ve said I’ll stick to ; your 
father was no business man. He didn’t know how to 
manage.” 

“He certainly made a mistake when he appointed 
you my guardian,” I replied pointedly. 

Mr. Norton turned pale. 

“What do you mean by that?” he demanded. 

“I mean just what I say.” 

“You don’t like the idea of my being set over you, 
eh?” 

“No, I don’t.” 

“Well, you’ll have to get used to it.” 

“I don’t think I ever shall. I could never like 
any one who spoke of my father in the style you 
have done.” 

« Hoity-toity ! That is all boy’s talk.” 


48 


REUBEN STONE’S DISCOVERY. 


*‘I mean it.” 

“Well, like me or not, you must remember that I 
am now in charge of everything. I shall expect you 
hereafter to do as I say.” 

To this I did not reply. I looked at Ford, and 
saw that his lip was curled up. Evidently he did not 
like Mr. Enos Norton any more than I did. 

“ You have been having things here your own way 
too long. You have let the business go to the dogs, 
and all that sort of thing. Now all this has got to 
be stopped. I have got to get back my six hundred 
and fifty dollars, and then I have got to get what re- 
mains into shape, and invest it for your future good. 
How does your bank account stand at present?” and 
Mr. Norton stopped eating to hear my answer. 

I paused before replying. 

“ Did you hear me ? ” he added. “ How much 
money have you got in the bank?” 

“Not a cent,” I returned. And somehow it gave 
me pleasure to say so. 

“Not a cent! Come, I want the truth.” 

“I have told the truth. We have no bank account.” 

“Well, then, how much money have you on hand?” 

“Not a dollar.” 

“You mean that? 

“If I didn’t I wouldn’t say so. Business is bad, 
and I have all I can do to make both ends meet. 


HOT WORDS. 


49 


I took in twenty-one dollars yesterday, and paid it 
out on account a few hours afterwards.” 

Mr. Norton sank back in his chair. I could see 
that his hopes had had a great fall. Evidently he 
had expected me to mention quite a round sum. 

“Then how do you expect to pay me my six hun- 
dred and fifty dollars ? ” he demanded after a spell of 
silence. 

“I’m sure I don’t know.” 

“I laid out the money, and I expect it back.” 

“Well, as you have charge of my father’s affairs, 
you must get it back the best way you can,” I re- 
plied briefly. 

“None of your impudence!” 

“I am not impudent. I haven’t any money, and 
there is no money here belonging to father; that’s 
all there is to it.” 

Mr. Norton jumped up from his chair and strode 
about the room. 

“ You are lying to me ! ” he cried passionately. 

“ I tell the truth.” 

“I don’t believe a word of it,” he went on. “Your 
father had money, and either you have spent it, or else 
you intend to keep it from me. Now, I am going to 
know the truth.” 

As Mr. Norton concluded he walked over to the cor- 
ner, and caught up a hickory stick that stood behind 
the door. 


50 


REUBEN STONE’S DISCOVERY. 


“What do you intend to do?” I cried, as he ad- 
vanced upon me. 

“I am going to give you your first lesson in telling 
the truth,” he replied. 

“You shall not touch me with that stick!” 

“I will. You shall learn to mind me, and that the 
very first thing.” 

And with these words Mr. Norton rushed on me, 
and grabbed me by the collar. 


AT ROCK ISLAND. 


51 


CHAPTER VI. 

AT ROCK ISLAND. 

I could hardly believe that Mr. Norton intended 
to strike me. I had not been struck for a long time ; 
in fact, as far back as I could remember, and I did 
not intend to submit. 

Accordingly, when the man caught me by the col- 
lar, I jerked away as quickly as possible, and put the 
table between us. 

This seemed to enrage him still more, and he fairly 
leaped the distance, caught me again, and bore me to 
the floor. 

“We’ll see if you are going to mind or not!” he 
cried. 

“ Let me up ! ” I screamed. 

“Yes, let him up,” put in Ford. “I won’t have 
you thrashing Rube.” 

And he caught Mr. Norton by the arm, and pulled 
him in such a fashion that he went sprawling on 
his back. 

My tormentor was completely astonished by this 
movement. He scrambled to his feet, and I lost no 
time in doing the same. 


52 


REUBEN STONE’S DISCOVERY. 


“What do you mean by interfering?” demanded 
Mr. Norton, turning a livid face to the mill-hand. 

“I won’t stand by and see Rube abused,” retorted 
Ford. 

“ It’s none of your business ! ” 

“I’ll make it my business.” 

“ You’ll do no such a thing ! ” howled Mr. Nor- 
ton. “I won’t have such a fellow as you about the 
place. You are discharged.” 

“I am willing. I wouldn’t want to work here if 
you are to be the boss. But I’m Rube’s friend, and 
I’m going to stick up for him. Nice kind of a man 
you are, raising a fight when you haven’t been here 
but a few hours ! You ought to be ashamed of your- 
self! If I told folks down to the Bend about the 
way you carry on, they’d ride you on a rail.” 

Ford was in for easing his mind, and I let him 
go on. 

“Stop! stop!” cried Mr. Norton. “I won’t listen 
to a word.” 

“ Oh, yes, you will,” went on Ford. “ Here is 
Rube just about heard of his father’s death, and you 
treating him in this fashion ! You haven’t got a heart 
as big as a toad. Besides, the boy has told you the 
truth.” 

“How do you know?” asked the man, somewhat 
abashed by the fact that Ford did not back down. 
“His father must have been worth something.” 


AT ROCK ISLAND. 


53 


“Well, he wasn’t; and in these times it’s hard to 
make a living at anything in Bend Center. I’ve 
looked around and I know.” 

Mr. Norton was silent for a moment ; then his man- 
ner appeared to change. He threw the stick into the 
corner, and sat down on a chair. 

“ Perhaps I was a little hard,” he admitted ; “ but 
I was led to believe that Stone was rich, otherwise I 
would never have loaned him the money I did.” 

No one made any reply to this, and he went on, — 

“Sit down, Reuben; I won’t touch you. I didn’t 
think you had just got the bad news. It’s over a week 
old to me.” 

“ I got your letter last evening.” 

“ Yes ? I suppose it was enough to upset you. 
Come, we will let things run along as they have been 
for a few days. You won’t find me hard to get on 
with after you once know me.” 

I had my doubts about this, but decided to keep 
them to myself. We finished the meal in silence, 
and then Ford beckoned me out into the mill-room. 

“ Do you want me to stay with you to-night ? ” he 
asked. 

“Won’t it be too much of an inconvenience?” 

“Not at all. I’ll go down to the house, and let 
the folks know, and then come right back.” 

“ If you do you’ll have to sleep with me, for I’ll 
have to give the spare bed to Mr. Norton,” I said. 


54 


REUBEN STONE’S DISCOVERY. 


“I won’t mind that if you don’t,” replied the mill- 
hand. 

So the matter was settled. If Mr. Norton heard of 
it he did not say anything, and for the remainder of 
the evening things ran smoothly. 

Before we retired I had learned many things that 
are not necessary to repeat here. Mr. Norton told of 
how he and my father had met in Chicago, how my 
father had begged of him to advance him money from 
time to time, and how the two had started together 
for South Dakota. He was a fluent talker, and I grew 
quite interested, though I did not exactly believe all 
that was told me. 

We were all up early the next morning, and Ford 
and I prepared breakfast. Before eating, Mr. Norton 
applied himself again to the bottle, and asked the 
mill-hand if there was a good tavern at the Bend; 
to which Ford replied that there was a tavern, but 
whether good or bad he did not know, as he had never 
stopped there. 

“ Got any grinding to do ? ” 

“Enough to keep us running till noon.” 

“And after that?” 

“We’ll have to wait for something to come in,” I 
replied. 

“Then, Ford, we can get along without you,” con- 
tinued Mr. Norton. “ In the future Reuben and I will 
do all the work.” 


AT ROCK ISLAND. 


55 


\ 

“All right,” said the mill-hand, seeing that there was 
nothing else to be done. “ How about my wages ? ” 
and he winked at me. 

“ How much is coming to you ? ” 

“Eight dollars.” 

“Reuben, have you the money?” 

“No, sir; as I said before, I haven’t a dollar.” 

Mr. Norton thought for a moment, and then got out 
his pocket-book. 

“ Here you are,” he said. “ Give me a receipt. I 
will have to charge the amount against the estate.” 

“Then I don’t want it,” said Ford. “I’m not going 
to rob Rube of what little is coming to him.” 

“ Take it, Dan,” I said. “ You’ve earned it.” And 
I compelled him to put the money in his pocket. 

Then the receipt was written out, and this Mr. 
Norton placed carefully in his notebook. 

“Now we are done with you,” he said. “If I ever 
need you in the future I will send Reuben for you. 
I suppose }^ou never thought of buying the mill, did 
you?” 

“I haven’t got the money,” replied Ford. 

“The reason I asked is because the place may be 
up for sale,” went on Mr. Norton; “if so, it ought 
to be a pretty good investment for you.” 

“It might be,” said Ford. 

A little later he went off, and Mr. Norton and I 


56 


REUBEN STONE’S DISCOVERY. 


were left alone. I set to work with a will, and he 
stood around watching me. 

“ That’s easy enough,” he said, as I fed the grain 
into the hoppers. “I should think almost any one 
could do that.” 

“Feeding is easy enough, but there are a good 
many/ other things to learn, as you will soon see.” 

A little later Mr. Norton took a walk around the 
outside of the place. He was gone fully an hour, 
and when he came back he appeared to be quite 
uneasy. 

“ Do you need anything from the village ? ” he 
asked. 

“We need a number of groceries,” I replied. “I 
wanted to get them day before yesterday, but Mr. 
Jackson wouldn’t let me have them until I settled 
up in full. I owe him three dollars yet.” 

“Well, you had better go down and get those gro- 
ceries now. Let this grinding go till this afternoon 
or to-morrow. I want you to get me some — some 
tobacco.” 

“I will have to pay for all I get.” 

“Well, I will give you the money. Will two 
dollars do ? ” 

“I need but a dollar.” 

“ Then here is a dollar and a quarter. Get me a 
quarter’s worth of plug-cut smoking. You needn’t 


AT ROCK ISLAND. 


57 


liurry about getting back. Seeing what you’ve got 
on your mind you need a rest.” 

In ten minutes I was off in the sloop. Mr. Norton 
seemed to be very anxious to have me go, but for 
what reason I could not determine. 

“ And remember you needn’t hurry back,” he called 
out as I hoisted the mainsail and stood off from the 
shore; “if any orders come in I will attend to them.” 

As I moved down the shore toward the Bend I 
reviewed my strange situation. How much had hap- 
pened in the last forty-eight hours! 

I was far from satisfied with Mr. Norton — some- 
how I could not call him my uncle. I had expected 
my mother’s brother to be a different kind of a man. 
He would evidently make a hard guardian, and I 
was sure that for me there were many breakers ahead. 

As the sloop skimmed along far enough from the 
shore to catch the full benefit of the breeze that 
was blowing, I espied another craft anchored in a 
little cove a quarter of a mile below the mill. 

She was a stranger to me, and I wondered who 
owned her, and why her master had stopped at the 
spot, which was a rocky one, full of thorny bushes. 

Perhaps he had come for some geological specimens, 
which the visitors at Bayport were frequently after. 
The region was full of all kinds of stone, and I 
knew it was quite a fad to study them. 


58 


REUBEN STONE’S DISCOVERY. 


I passed the craft, and continued on the way to 
Bend Center, arriving there in the middle of the 
forenoon. 

I found that the news of my father’s death had 
been widely circulated, and nearly every one I met 
came forward to extend a sympathy that went straight 
to my heart. 

I did not go to Mr. Jackson’s store, but to the 
“ opposition,” as it is called in such places. This 
was kept by Mr. Frank Lewis, a young man, and 
one whom I found very obliging. 

It did not take me long to make my purchases. 
As I turned to go back to the boat I came face 
to face with Tom Darrow. 

“ Hullo, Rube!” he exclaimed. “Well, this is 
lucky! You’re the fellow I want to see.” 

“What about?” I asked. “Have you found the 
sloop ? ” 

“Come with me and I’ll tell you,” he replied. 

And he led the way out of the store, and down to 
the pier. 

“ I ain’t found the sloop, Rube, but I’ve found out 
something about her.” 

“What have you found out, Tom?” I questioned, 
as my heart gave a bound. 

“I overheard three men talking about some sloop 
they had picked up,” went on the old fisherman. 


AT ROCK ISLAND. 


59 


“ They stopped talking as soon as they saw I was 
around. I reckon they want to scoop the prize for 
themselves.” 

“ Who were the men ? ” 

“I didn’t know two of them; the other was Andy 
Carney. You know him?” 

“Yes; he is one of the tough fishermen from the 
north end. What do you suppose the three have done 
with the boat?” 

“ Taken her up to one of the coves at Rock Island. 
If I was you I’d sail up and take a look around.” 

“I will,” I replied. 

“I’d go along, only I can’t spare the time,” said 
Darrow. 

Five minutes later I was on board my sloop, and 
speeding for Rock Island in search of the Catch Me, 
which I was now certain had been stolen. 

The large sloop had become my property, and as the 
craft was worth at least three hundred dollars it is 
no wonder that I was anxious to find her. The sum 
of money represented a good deal to me, especially in 
my present situation. 

Mr. Norton, my newly appointed guardian, had told 
me to take my time about getting back to the mill, so 
I considered that I had at least several hours of my 
own before me. This was long enough, I calculated, 
to take a run up to Rock Island, make an investiga- 


60 


REUBEN STONE’S DISCOVERY. 


tion, and get back to the mouth of the Torrent Bend 
River. 

I let the mainsail out full, and also the jib. This 
was all the small sloop could carry in the present 
wind, and even then I found I had a lively time when- 
ever it came to changing the tack. 

I stowed away the stuff I had bought in the cuddy, 
where it would not get wet, and then took things easy 
in the stern-sheets. 

It was a beautiful day, and had my mind been free 
I would have enjoyed the outing thoroughly. But 
the clouds of sorrow and perplexity were upon me, 
and I paid scant attention to the fair blue sky above 
and the rippling water beneath. 

At length I came within a quarter of a mile of the 
island, and then began to keep my eyes wide open for 
whatever might come to view. 

Rock Island was half a mile wide by nearly a mile 
long, and on all sides were a number of coves and 
inlets, some well hidden by the masses of bushes and 
trees that grew along the shores. 

I decided to make my investigation as systematic 
as possible, knowing that it would be folly to sail 
about in a haphazard fashion. I ran into the first 
cove I came to, looked around in every direction, and 
continued this until I had visited the entire south and 
east shores. 


AT ROCK ISLAND. 


61 


By this time it was midday. I was hungry, for a 
breeze on the water is calculated to sharpen up al- 
most any one’s appetite. I had a lunch in the locker, 
and this I munched as the sloop sped along to the 
north shore. 

Suddenly I saw, or fancied I saw, a speck of white 
in the bushes some distance ahead. I tacked in the 
direction, and presently distinguished the mast of some 
vessel standing out straight among the cr joked trees 
that lined a long and narrow inlet. 

Satisfied that I had made a discovery of impor- 
tance, I lowered the jib and took several reefs in the 
mainsail. The wind carried me directly into the 
opening, and here I dropped anchor. 

“ Hullo, there ! What do you want here ? ” 

It was a rough voice that hailed me, and looKing 
around I beheld a rougher-looking man standing on 
the shore, not ten feet away from me. 

It was Andy Carney, the fellow Darrow had men- 
tioned to me. He carried a gun, and his manner 
was one of astonishment and anger. 


.1 


62 


REUBEN STONE S DISCOVERY. 


CHAPTER VII. 

A PITCHED BATTLE. 

I WAS astonished to find myself face to face with 
Andy Carney, whom I knew to be one of the tough- 
est characters that infested the north shore of Rock 
Island Lake. 

But if the meeting was unexpected for me, it was 
equally so for him, for after hailing me he stood 
still for a moment; and in that space of time I had 
a chance to recover. 

“ I say, what do you want here ? ” he repeated, 
seeing that I did not answer him. 

“I was looking for a sloop that capsized on the 
lake a couple of days ago,” I returned. 

“What kind of a sloop?” 

I described the Catch Me as best I could. 

“No such craft around this island,” said Carney, 
after I had finished. 

“ Are you sure ? ” 

“Certain. I was all around the shore only this 
morning.” 

I did not believe this statement, and I paused, 
undecided what to do next. 


A PITCHED BATTLE. 


63 


“Was it your sloop?” went on the fisherman. 

“Yes. She was given to me the day she was 
blown over.” 

“That so? Why didn’t you see to her at once?” 

“I didn’t have time. I was told she was some- 
where up here.” 

“Who told you?” 

“Tom Darrow.” 

The instant I uttered the name I was sorry I had 
done so, for I did not wish to get my honest old 
friend into trouble. The man I addressed scowled. 

“Darrow ought to keep his mouth shut,” he mut- 
tered. “The sloop ain’t here.” 

“What boat is that over yonder?” 

“That’s my own craft.” 

“You have got her pretty well up the cove,” I 
added. 

The man scowled even deeper than before. 

“See here, what business is that of yours?” he 
demanded. “Reckon I can take my boat where I 
please.” 

“I suppose you can; I only asked. I reckon I 
can do that.” 

“I drew the boat up because I’m busy painting 
her, and this is a good spot to do it.” 

“Do you live here?” I went on, more to gain 
time to think than for any desire to know. 


64 


REUBEN STONE’S DISCOVERY. 


“Sometimes. I’ve got a sort of a house here, 
and another over to the shore yonder. I own this 
island.” 

This last assertion I knew to be a falsehood. I 
had on my good clothes out of respect to my father’s 
memory, and he evidently took me for one of the 
summer boarders. 

“I should like to see your boat,” I ventured. 

“What for?” 

“Just to see how a boat is painted. I may want 
to do such a job myself some day.” 

“Well, I’m sorry, but you can’t see her,” replied 
Carney decidedly. 

“Why not?” 

“Because I don’t want anybody fooling around. 
I’ve been mighty particular over the work, and I 
don’t want it spoilt.” 

“I won’t touch a thing.” 

“Oh, I know all about that! I ain’t going to 
have no finger-marks all over the gun’ale and the 
gold lines.” 

I turned and looked at the mast, which was all I 
could now see of the hidden craft. If my memory 
served me rightly it was the exact counterpart of 
the one belonging to the Catch Me. The man was 
plainly lying, and had my property in his possession. 

“Well, I’m coming ashore, anyway,” I returned; 
and I jumped from the sloop to the rocks. 



Then I crawled up the rocks and peered over 


Page 181 
















































































* 



















































A PITCHED BATTLE. 


65 


“What do you mean by disobeying my orders?” 
cried Carney, rushing over to where I had landed. 

“Disobeying your orders?” I repeated. 

“Yes. You know well enough I don’t want you 
to land here.” 

“If I want to land I don’t see how you are going 
to stop me,” I replied as coolly as I could, although 
I was anxious as to the outcome of the situation. 

“You don’t, eh? Didn’t I tell you I owned this 
island?” 

“ I don’t believe it. The property has always been 
in the families of several Bend Center folks.” 

“What do you know about Bend Center?” 

“I know all about it.” 

“You don’t mean to say you live there?” and 
there was actual wonder in the man’s tone. 

“ I live near the place. I run the mill over at 
Torrent Bend River.” 

Carney stepped back. 

“Are you Reuben Stone?” he cried. 

“That’s my name.” 

In spite of his bronzed face I saw the fellow turn 
pale. What impression had the discovery of my 
identity made upon him? 

“ I thought you said you owned the boat you are 
looking for?” he said at length. 

“So I do.” 


66 


REUBEN STONE’S DISCOVERY. 


“The Catch Me belonged to Baj^port.” 

“I thought you didn’t know anything about her?” 
I returned sharply. 

“Well, I — I thought I didn’t,” he stammered; 
“but what you said put me in mind of her.” 

“She was given to me for rescuing the two men 
and the woman and the boy who were sailing in 
her.” 

“Given to you?” 

“ Yes.” 

“Humph!” Carney tossed his head. “Well, she 
ain’t here, and you had better look elsewhere for 
her.” 

“I’m going to take a walk around the island.” 

I had hardly uttered the words before the man 
caught me by the shoulder. 

“You are going to do nothing of the sort!” he 
cried. “ I want you to clear out at once.” 

“Suppose I don’t choose to do so?” 

“I’ll make you.” 

I looked at the fellow. He was pretty big, and 
he looked strong; still I stood my ground. 

“How are you going to make me go?” I asked. 

“Do you see this gun? Well, if you don’t hustle 
off you may feel it.” 

In spite of my efforts to remain calm I shivered. 
The weapon looked as if it was capable of doing 
some wicked work. 


A PITCHED BATTLE. 


67 


“Yon see I’m the boss around Rock Island,” 
went on Carney, “and I don’t take any talk from 
any one. I want you to get out at once.” 

And saying this, he stepped back and pointed the 
gun at my head. I did not think he meant to fire 
it. He thought he would scare me; that was all. 
But it was not pleasant to have the barrel in line 
with my head, and I stepped back and out of 
range. 

“Now get on board of your sloop, and pull up 
anchor,” continued Carney. “I don’t want any more 
talk.” 

While he was speaking I watched my chance, and 
as he lowered the gun I rushed forward, grasped it 
with both hands, and pulled it away from him. 

“ Here ! give me back that gun ! ” he exclaimed, as 
I retreated. 

“Not a bit of it!” I returned. “You’ll find that 
two can play at that game.” 

And I brought up the barrel of the weapon on a 
level with his breast. 

“ Don’t shoot ! ” 

“I don’t intend to if you behave yourself. Just 
you march over to your right.” 

“What for?” 

“Never mind; do as I tell you.” 

With very bad grace Carney did as I had directed. 


68 REUBEN STONE’S DISCOVERY. 

When he had reached a point fully fifteen yards 
away I told him to halt. The spot was in the midst 
of a number of barren rocks, and here I felt sure 
that I could watch him. 

“ Now I am going to take a look at your boat,” 
I went on. “Don’t you dare to move while I do 
so. 

“Won’t do you any good,” he muttered. 

Without replying, I made my way through the 
rough brush and over the rocks to where the mast 
of the boat could be seen. It was but a short dis- 
tance, and soon I stood face to face with the hidden 
craft. 

For an instant I did not recognize her. The blue- 
and-white hull had given way to one of red, and the 
name had been scratched and covered with several 
coats of paint ; but the general appearance of the 
deck and rigging had not been changed, and I was 
certain that the craft was the missing Catch Me. 

Had I come a day later, the job of transformation 
would have been complete, and the sloop might have 
been lost to me forever. I counted myself lucky at 
having made the trip of investigation as soon as I 
had. 

An instant later I looked around to see if Carney 
was where I left him, and I was chagrined to note 
that he had disappeared. 


A BLOW FROM BEHIND. 


69 . 


CHAPTER VIII. 

A BLOW FROM BEHIND. 

For an instant I did not know what to do. Car- 
ney had vanished, and that, I was satisfied, boded no 
good to me. 

With my gun ready for use, I picked my way back 
to the rock nearest to my boat, intending to embark 
at once. The man was probably not alone on the 
island, and had gone off for assistance. Perhaps he 
would soon appear with the other two men Tom 
Darrow had mentioned. 

But as I jumped aboard my boat another surprise 
awaited me. Carney was hidden under an old sail 
forward, and I had hardly set foot upon deck when 
he jumped up and struck me a cruel blow from 
behind. 

“ Take that for interfering with me ! ” he cried. 

I caught but a glimpse of him ; then came the 
blow, and I saw millions of stars. I staggered for- 
ward, and for a while my senses forsook me. 

I think I remained unconscious at least a quarter 
of an hour. When I came to I found myself lying 
on the bottom of my sloop. 


70 


REUBEN STONE’S DISCOVERY. 


Somewhat confused from the rough treatment I 
had received, I raised my head and looked around 
me. Water was on every hand, and I saw that the 
craft had been shoved off from the island, and sent 
drifting down the lake. 

As soon as I was able I ran up the mainsail, and 
then stood over for the west shore. There was no 
use returning to Rock Island for the present. 

Carney had his gun once more, and would not 
now hesitate to use it. I must get some one to help 
me before going back for my property. 

I turned the matter over in my mind, and then 
decided to return to the mill, leave the groceries and 
Mr. Norton’s tobacco, and then sail down to the Bend 
for Tom Darrow, and perhaps one or two others 
with whom I was well acquainted, and who I knew 
would help me. 

As I skimmed over the surface of the lake I de- 
cided not to tell Mr. Norton of what had happened 
and of what I intended to do. It was none of his 
affair, and he would no doubt claim the boat as part 
of the estate under his charge. Perhaps I was not 
doing right according to law, but I was no lawyer, 
and I thought I could run matters quite as well as 
he could. 

The distance to the mill-landing was soon covered, 
and then I lowered the sail and prepared to tie up. 


A BLOW FROM BEHIND. 


71 


As I did so 1 saw two strange men walk out of the 
mill-room, followed by my newly arrived relative. 

I knew every man, woman, and child in the region, 
and I was sure the two men were total strangers in 
the lake district. They were short, small built, well 
dressed; and I could not imagine what had brought 
them to the place. 

The spot where I had tied up was partly hidden 
from the mill by a number of bushes and trees. I 
saw that the painter was properly fastened, and then 
walked slowly towards my home. 

“Yes, there is no use of waiting any longer,” I 
overheard one of the men say. “We have made 
enough mistakes already. Delay will mean more.” 

“ Then you intend to go ahead to-night ? ” asked 
the voice of Mr. Norton anxiously. 

“Yes. By the way, how do you get on with the 
boy?” 

“ Pretty well. He’s rather high-strung. I expect 
him back any moment. I sent him over to Bend 
Center for some tobacco.” 

« Good. Come, Bill ; let’s be off before he returns.” 

“ Just as you say, Dick. You are running this 
deal, not I.” 

And with these words the two men passed out of 
hearing, and made for the boat I had seen anchored 
in the inlet when I had gone down to the Bend in 
the morning. 


72 


REUBEN STONE’S DISCOVERY. 


This conversation surprised me not a little. At 
first I had intended to come forward and show my- 
self, but now I was glad I had not done so. 

Who were the two men? and what was their mis- 
sion to the mill ? Plainly they were well known 
to Mr. Norton; and yet he had just come from the 
West, and had not been in Bend Center for many 
years. 

Perhaps these men were also from the West, and, 
knowing Mr. Norton was at the mill, had stopped 
over, most likely from Bayport, to see him. This 
was a rather lame explanation, and it by no means 
satisfied me. As to what was to be “gone ahead 
with” that night I had not the faintest idea. 

Ordinarily I would not have given the entire mat- 
ter any attention ; but, as I have said, Mr. Norton’s 
way of doing things did not suit me, and I was 
anxious to find out something about him, and what 
I was to expect from him in the future. 

I waited for several minutes after the men had 
gone, and then making rather more noise than was 
necessary, walked up to the mill. 

Mr. Norton met me at the door. “Back at last, 
I see,” he said. “ Got that tobacco ? ” 

“Yes, sir;” and I handed it over. 

“Good. I’m nearly dead for a smoke. Do you 
use the weed ? ” 


A BLOW FROM BEHIND. 


73 


“No, sir.” 

“That’s right. Never start. It’s costly, and does 
a fellow no good.” 

I took the groceries I had brought, and put them 
in the pantry. Mr. Norton filled his pipe, and 
began to puff away vigorously. 

“Always have to smoke when I’m thinking,” he re- 
marked as he blew a cloud of smoke to the ceiling. 

I was on the point of asking him the subject of 
his thoughts, but checked myself. 

“What are you going to do now?” he inquired. 

“ If I can, I would like to get off for the rest of 
the day,” I returned. 

“ Has that grinding got to be done ? ” 

“ No, sir ; to-morrow will do.” 

“ Then you can go. I didn’t think about this 
news of your father’s death being so new to you, 
or I wouldn’t have asked you to go to work to-day. 
Fact is, I’m all upset with traveling around. That’s 
what riled my temper up last night.” 

“I’m not used to such treatment,” I could not 
help remarking. 

“ I suppose your father was very easy. Well, 
we’ll let what’s gone alone, and take a new start. 
What time do you expect to be back ? ” 

“Some time this evening.” 

“ All right.” 


74 REUBEN STONE’S DISCOVERY. 

“ By the way,” I went on, as I walked towards 
the door, “weren’t there two men here just before 
I came ? ” 

Mr. Norton jumped to his feet. 

“What’s that?” he exclaimed in surprise. 

I repeated my question. 

“I didn’t see them,” he answered. “What made 
you think they were here ? ” 

His reply rather staggered me. I had not ex- 
pected so deliberate a falsehood. 

“I thought I saw them,” I said simply. 

“Must have been mistaken. Nobody here since you 
went away.” 

I walked down to the sloop in a thoughtful frame 
of mind. What did this false statement mean ? 
Surely there was some mystery connected with the 
visit of the two strangers, — a mystery that Mr. 
Norton was anxious to conceal. 

I was half inclined to turn back and find out what 
was “ in the wind ; ” but I concluded that for the 
present it would be useless to do so. No one but my 
uncle was about, and he would not tell me a word. 

When I reached the pier at the Bend I found Tom 
Darrow at his accustomed place, disposing of a big 
mess of fish he had caught during the morning. I 
told him of what had happened at the island, and 
he agreed to go with me without delay. 


A BLOW FROM BEHIND. 


75 


“Never mind taking anybody else,” he said. “I 
know Andy Carney. He is a rough customer, but 
a regular coward at heart. When he sees that we 
mean business he’ll cave right in.” 

“ I trust it is as you say, Tom,” I replied. “ He 
was pretty ugly this noon.” 

“We’ll manage him, never fear.” 

“ If we get the sloop, I wish you would take 
charge of her for me,” I continued. “I don’t care 
to take her down to the mill-landing.” 

“I will, Rube.” 

Tom jumped aboard, and we were off and up the 
lake. It was now getting well on in the afternoon, 
and by the time we approached the island the sun 
was setting. 

“We’ll have to be careful,” I said; “Carney may 
be on the lookout for us.” 

“ He wouldn’t dare to fire at us,” laughed Darrow. 

But I shook my head. Carney was a desperate 
character, and I would have felt safer had I had a 
gun on board, which, unfortunately, was not the case. 

At length we rounded the south shore of Rock 
Island, and stood up for the north end. As we did 
so Darrow drew attention to another craft directly 
ahead. 

“There’s a boat I’ve seen a number of times in 
the past few days,” he said. “If I ain’t mistaken 


76 


REUBEN STONE’S DISCOVERY. 


it’s the same I saw towing that raft behind it — the 
raft that I guess was the Catch Me on her side.” 

I looked, and was sure I had seen the boat before. 
Then we ran closer to her, and just as we passed 
around a bend I caught sight of the boat’s side, and 
recognized her as the same craft the two strangers had 
used on their visit to the mill. 


THE TWO STRANGERS. 


77 


CHAPTER IX. 

THE TWO STRANGERS. 

The discovery I made was totally unexpected, and for 
the moment I did not know what to make of it. Dar- 
row noticed my peculiar look, and asked what was up. 

“That’s just what I would like to know, Tom,” I 
replied. “Let us run in here out of sight. I want 
to tell you something.” 

I pointed to a cove close at hand, and the old 
fisherman turned and we swept behind the bushes. 

“You are sure that is the same boat you saw tow- 
ing the sloop ? ” I questioned eagerly. 

“ Guess I am. My eyes don’t deceive me very 
often, though they are getting old.” 

“Is the boat a strange one around the Bend?” 

“Yes; but it belongs on the lake.” 

“Is it Carney’s?” 

“Maybe it is. But did you see it around the 
island when you were here before?” 

“No; it was over at the mill.” 

And I told him what I knew of the boat and the 
two men who had sailed her. 


T8 


REUBEN STONE’S DISCOVERY. 


“Well, that’s strange,” he said. “Most likely the 
two chaps are on board now.” 

“If so, what are they doing here?” I demanded. 

“ That’s to be found out,” returned Darrow slowly. 
“It’s more than likely they ain’t up to no good — 
with all due respect to your uncle,” he added hastily. 

“Never mind about that,” I said. “To tell you the 
truth, I don’t like Mr. Norton one bit. He treated 
me like a dog from the start, and there is some- 
thing in my breast that tells me that he does not 
mean me well.” 

And I told the old fisherman of all I had gone 
through since the sad news of my father’s death had 
been received. 

He was deeply interested and highly indignant by 
the time I had finished. 

“Ford was right,” he burst out; “I wouldn’t mind 
helping him to a ride on a rail myself. He ain’t fit 
to be the guardian of a cow. You will have to watch 
him, or he’ll spend the proceeds of your father’s estate 
on himself. If I were you I’d make him prove that 
he loaned all the money to your father that he says 
he has.” 

“I’ve been thinking about that. I imagine all the 
business ought to be brought before the court.” 

“So it had. If I was you I’d go over to Squire 
Slocum’s house some time, and state the case.” 


THE TWO STRANGERS. 


79 


“So I will.” I paused for a moment. “But we 
are off the track for the present. We must go ahead, 
and see if these two men are in league with Carney.” 

“They must be,” said Darrow, as we allowed my 
sloop to forge ahead again. “If not, how could they 
have his boat?” 

“They might have hired it, and left him waiting 
for them on the island,” I suggested. 

But I did not believe such to be a fact, and Darrow 
agreed with me. The three were evidently banded 
together, and for no good purpose. 

At length the sloop ahead disappeared up the mouth 
of a long inlet. Seeing this, we allowed my craft to 
come up to the bank some distance behind, and here 
I tied fast, and we went ashore. 

“Now let us be careful,” I whispered. “I want 
to see what the three are up to without being seen.” 

“All right; I’ll be as careful as a cat,” responded 
Darrow. 

We picked our way around the rocks and through 
the bushes silently. Presently the murmur of voices 
broke upon my sharpened ears, and I knew we were 
drawing close to our objective point. I placed my 
hand on the fisherman’s shoulder as a signal for him 
to halt, and listened with all attention. 

“ Hullo, Carney ! ” some one suddenly called. 

There was no answer, and the cry was repeated. 


80 


REUBEN STONE’S DISCOVERY. 


“ Hullo ! Is that you, friends ? ” came back the reply. 

“Yes. Where are you?” 

“This way.” There was a moment’s pause, and 
then the party of three were joined. “You’ve been 
pretty long, strangers,” went on Carney. 

“We had to fix a number of things,” was the reply. 

“Did you get everything straight?” 

“Pretty much so,” replied the fellow who had been 
addressed as Dick. 

“ Good for you, Mr. Avery ! ” 

I was intensely interested in this bit of conversa- 
tion. It proved beyond a doubt that Mr. Norton and 
the two strangers were in league together and that 
Carney was in the circle. The four were up to no 
good; but what their plans were for the future was 
not yet made plain. 

“How are you getting on with your boat?” went 
on Yates the third man. 

“ Slowly.” Carney paused for a moment. “ I’ve 
had a visitor since you’ve been gone.” 

Both men were surprised. 

“Who?” both asked in a breath. 

“Reuben Stone.” 

Yates and Avery uttered an exclamation. 

“You don’t mean it!” cried the latter. 

“It’s so.” 


“What did he want?” 


THE TWO STRANGERS. 


81 


“Wanted the boat. He said it belonged to him. 
He rescued the people who w'ere on board, and they 
gave him the craft for the service.” 

“ W ell, that’s the oddest thing I ever came across ! ” 
ejaculated Yates. “Norton didn’t say anything about 
the boy coming over here. What did you do?” 

“Sent the boy about his business. Told him the 
boat wasn’t anywhere near the island.” 

It will readily be seen from the above that Andy 
Carney knew how to draw upon his imagination. I 
could not help but smile at his version of our meeting. 

“You are sure the boy knows nothing about the 
boat being here?” 

“Positive.” 

“ Because we don’t want him to be nosing about 
here later on.” 

“Don’t fear about that. I’m going to take her 
away as soon as I can. Do you men want to get 
over to Bayport now?” 

“ Yes,” replied Yates. “ Land us about half a 
mile above the town.” 

“All right.” 

The three men moved off towards the place where 
the sloop had been left. They passed close to where 
Darrow and I were in hiding. For an instant I 
thought we would be discovered, but then they dis- 
appeared around the rocks. 


82 


BEUBEN STONE’S DISCOYEBY. 


“We will follow them,” I whispered. 

u Don’t you want to stay behind and get the boat ? ” 
asked Darrow. 

“ Yes ; but I want to see them off first.’ 

So silently as shadows we followed the trio to the 
shore, and saw them enter Carney’s boat. 

In doing this they ran within half a dozen yards 
of where my own craft was tied up. For an instant 
my heart stood in my throat. Would they see her? 
If so, what would be the consequence ? 

But the three did not notice the craft, and soon 
they were a goodly distance from the shore. With 
a sigh of relief I rose from my cramped position, and 
told Darrow to follow me. 

In a moment we were within sight of the Catch 
Me. Since I had been gone Carney had been work- 
ing like a beaver changing her appearance. He had 
shortened her mast and spars, put a different kind 
of a top to the cabin, and finished the painting. 

“In a day more, no one would be able to recog- 
nize her,” I said. “I suppose he thought he would 
be safe after he had finished his work.” 

“It’s a big swindle!” cried Darrow. “But you’ll 
cut him off short. No doubt he intends to come 
back for her as soon as he has landed those two 
men, who, to my guessing, are no good.” 

“That’s just my idea. Well, we’ll get the best 


THE TWO STRANGERS. 


88 


of him this time. New paint or not, I must get the 
boat out of this inlet, and tow her over to the Tor- 
rent Bend shore.” 

“ That’s the talk. Come, we’ll get to work with- 
out delay.” 

“But you may get all paint, Tom,” I protested. 

“I won’t mind that; I’ve got on my old clothes. 
Come ahead. Won’t Carney be surprised when he 
finds the boat gone ! ” 

“He might have expected that I would be back.” 

“But he didn’t expect you quite so soon. Of 
course he run a risk, but now he thinks it is all right. 
No doubt he will keep an eye on all boats steering for 
the island while he is making the run to Bay port.” 

We were soon at work on the Catch Me. I got 
out the anchor rope, and by hard tugging we man- 
aged to slide the craft off the rocks upon which she 
was partly resting. 

Then by taking off our shoes and stockings, and 
wading in the shallow water, we dragged her out of 
the inlet, and anchored her some distance from shore. 

After this I made my way across the island to 
where I had left my small craft. I soon had her 
untied and over to the spot where I wanted her. 
D arrow then came on board, and we fastened the 
painter to the bow of the Catch Me, and started for 
the shore above the mill. 


84 


REUBEN STONE’S DISCOVERY. 


“I don’t want to take her where Mr. Norton can 
see her,” I explained. “I want to keep her out of 
sight until I’ve seen Squire Slocum, and got his ad- 
vice about my father’s estate. Even if the man is 
my uncle I don’t like him, and his actions seem very 
suspicious.” 

It did not take us long to cover the distance from 
Rock Island to the shore. Here I knew of a pretty 
little cove,* well hidden by bushes, that was rarely 
visited. I ran into it, and there secured the Catch 
Me, intending to let her remain there until matters 
were more settled all around. 

“Now if you are done with me I’ll leave you right 
here,” said Darrow as I was about to go back to my 
small boat. “ I want to go up the mainroad a bit, and 
see Gus Hallet.” 

A moment later I was left alone. I hoisted sail, and 
was soon standing down to the mill landing. As I 
approached, another boat rounded the bend. I saw 
that it contained two strangers, and Ben Pointer the 
Bend Center constable. 

“There is Stone now,” I heard Pointer say. 

“ Is it ? Then arrest him on the spot,” returned one 
of the strangers. “ I am sure he is the thief.” 


A SURPRISE. 


85 


CHAPTER X. 

A SURPRISE. 

I was never so astonished in my life as when I 
heard one of the new-comers in the boat order the 
constable to arrest me at once. I had done no wrong, 
and I could not make the matter out. 

“ Hullo, Stone ! ” sang out Constable Pointer. 
“Hold up; we want to see you.” 

“I’m going to tie up -at the landing,” I replied; 
and as I spoke I lowered the sail. 

The two men in the other boat did the same, and 
soon all hands were standing on the little wharf. 

“What do you want of me, Pointer?” I inquired, 
looking from one to the other of the three men. 

“He’s going to arrest you, young man,” replied 
the elder of the two others. 

“Arrest me! What for?” 

“You know well enough.” 

“I haven’t the least idea,” I returned. “I haven’t 
done anything wrong.” 

“ Too thin ! Do you know who I am?” 

“I do not.” 


86 


REUBEN STONE’S DISCOVERY. 


“My name is Williams — Richard Williams, and 
I’m the owner of the Catch Me, the craft you have 
stolen.” 

I was rather surprised at this speech, but relieved 
to think that I was not accused of some other 
crime. 

“I did not steal your boat, Mr. Williams,” I re- 
plied as calmly as I could. 

“I have pretty plain evidence that you did,” re- 
turned the boat-owner warmly. 

“Nevertheless, you are mistaken, and you ought 
to know it.” 

“I ought to know it? Young man, what do you 
mean?” 

“Didn’t Mr. Markham pay you for the boat?” 

“Pay me ! Not a cent, sir; not a cent!” 

I was surprised. 

“He didn’t pay you?” I gasped. 

“No, he didn’t; and besides, even if he did, the 
boat is still mine. When a man hires a boat for a 
day he isn’t supposed to keep her forever.” 

“Do you mean to say he didn’t even pay you for 
hiring her?” I asked faintly. 

“No, he didn’t; and you know it. He was the 
biggest rogue at the hotel, and when he left he owed 
me nearly fifty dollars for boat-hire.” 

The news actually staggered me. Mr. Markham a 
fraud! I could not believe it. 


A SURPRISE. 


8T 


“Well, he told me he would pay you for the boat, 
and then she should be mine,” I explained. “ I saved 
him and his family from drowning when the boat 
went over. He even wanted me to take a reward be- 
sides, and took me to the bank to get the money.” 

“ And did he get the money ? ” questioned Mr. 
Williams. 

“No; he had some difficulty, and” — 

“ Rather guess he did have some difficulty,” sneered 
the boat-owner. 

“That man was nothing more nor less than a 
swindler,” put in the constable. “ He tried his best 
to do the hank out of several thousand dollars.” 

“ I can hardly believe it,” I replied. “ He looked 
every inch a gentleman.” 

“ Where is the boat ? ” demanded Mr. Williams. 

“She is just in the cove above, sir. I suppose, 
then, she doesn’t belong to me,” I added, with a 
sinking heart. 

“ Hardly, young man ; unless you want to pay four 
hundred dollars for her.” 

“ I couldn’t pay four hundred cents.” 

Considerably downcast, I led the way to where 
the Catch Me rode at anchor. 

All my high hopes concerning her and what I 
might realize by a sale melted away. 

« Then you didn’t take her on purpose ? ” asked 
Pointer, as we walked along. 


88 


KEUBEN STONE’S DISCO YEKY. 


“ Certainly not,” I replied. 44 I thought she was 
my property.” 

44 It’s quite likely men are giving away such val- 
uable presents,” sneered the man who had not yet 
spoken. 

44 Nevertheless, he appeared wealthy enough to do 
so, and he said I could have her,” I cried hotly. 
44 1 wouldn’t steal a pin ! ” 

There was no reply to this, and presently we came 
in sight of the Catch Me. 

44 That my boat?” ejaculated Mr. Williams. 

44 That’s the Catch Me,” I replied. 44 Some men 
tried to steal her and alter her appearance.” 

44 A likely story ! This is some of your own 
work ” — 

44 It is not!” 

“And I say it is. I believe you are in with this 
Markham,” stormed Mr. Williams. “You towed the 
boat in here, and expected to fix her up in such a 
fashion that no one would know her again. Pointer, 
I want him arrested.” 

I started back. The word arrest sent a chill 
through my body. 

44 Believe me or not, Mr. Williams, I am innocent,” 
I cried. 44 Mr. Markham gave me this boat — at least 
he said I could have her. I went on a hunt for her, 
and took Tom Darrow the fisherman with me. I 


A SURPRISE. 


89 


found that a fellow named Andy Carney had taken 
her to Rock Island, and was at work on her. We 
waited till Carney and his chums, two in number, 
had left the island, and then we hooked fast and 
dragged her over here. That’s the whole story, and 
it’s the truth.” 

And I looked the boat-owner squarely in the eye as 
I spoke. 

My manner had an effect upon him. He bit his 
lip. 

“ You say Darrow helped you find the boat ? ” he 
asked. 

“ Yes, sir. If you don’t believe it, ask him. 
Every one in the Bend knows Tom wouldn’t lie 
about it.” 

“And you say a fellow named Carney took the 
boat in the first place?” 

“Yes, sir. He had two strangers with him.” 

“Then if your story is true I will have Pointer 
arrest that man. This mutilation of my property 
is shameful. But you must come along and prove 
your story.” 

“Tom Darrow isn’t at the Bend now. He left to 
call on Gus Hallett, who lives about half a mile up 
the main road.” 

“ Is he there now ? ” 

“ I think so.” 


90 


REUBEN STONE’S DISCOVERY. 


“We’ll go up and see him at once,” said Mr. 
Williams. 

Leaving the other man in charge of the Catch 
Me, with instructions to sail her over to Bayport, 
the boat-owner told the constable and me to lead 
the way. 

W e met Darrow just coming away from the Hal- 
lett cottage. He was surprised to see me, and more 
surprised when I informed him of the object of our 
coming. 

“What! Rube steal that boat!” he exclaimed. 
“ Why, Mr. Williams, it’s plain to see you don’t 
know much about the Bend ! The Stones are every 
one of them as honest as a summer day is long.” 

And then he told what he knew of the affair. 

His statement corroborated mine so well that the 
boat-owner was forced to believe that I had told 
him the truth ; but he was still indignant regarding 
the treatment the Catch Me had received, and he 
made us promise to appear against Carney whenever 
wanted. 

We then walked back to the mill-landing. As we 
did so, Mr. Nortbn came out of the mill, and ap- 
proached with a questioning look on his face. 

“ What’s up ? ” he asked. 

“ Nothing much,” I replied briefly. 

“ There seems to be,” he went on. 


A SURPRISE. 


91 


“Who are you?” asked Mr. Williams. 

“ I am Enos Norton, this boy’s uncle and guar- 
dian.” 

“ Ah, indeed ! Well, you can be thankful. We 
came very near arresting the boy.” 

Mr. Norton was greatly taken aback. He asked 
half a dozen questions at once, and he grew pale at 
the mention of Carney’s name. 

“ Have — have you arrested that man ? ” he fal- 
tered. 

“ No ; but we’re going to, ” replied Constable 
Pointer. 

“ Of course, of course,” said Mr. Norton uneasily. 
“ He has done a great wrong. Reuben, you should 
have told me that Mr. Markham gave you the 
sloop.” 

To this I made no reply. A little later Mr. Wil- 
liams and Pointer went on board their boat, and 
Darrow accompanied them. They were bound for 
Bayport, and expected to catch Andy Carney on his 
return to Rock Island. 

I walked to the mill slowly, Mr. Norton following. 
I was deeply perplexed. What did Mr. Markham 
mean by his course of action? Had he really in- 
tended to dupe me, or was there some mistake? 

Mr. Norton watched me closely, but said no more 
until we were inside of the mill; then he slammed 


92 


REUBEN STONE’S DISCOVERY. 


the door shut and faced me, his face growing dark 
with passion. 

“ Reuben ! ” he cried, savagely. 

“ Well, sir? ” I returned. 

“ I want to talk to you.” 

“What about?” 

“What do you mean by trying to play an under- 
hand game on me ? ” he demanded. 


me,. Norton’s move. 


93 


CHAPTER XI. 

MR. NORTON’S MOVE. 

It was plain to see that Mr. Norton was deeply 
angered; indeed, he seemed to be in as violent a 
rage as it is possible for a man to attain. His teeth 
were tightly closed, and his hands twitched ner- 
vously. 

I made no reply to his last words, and then he 
went on, — 

“Don’t you understand that I am your guardian, 
and that I am to be informed of all your affairs?” 

“I understand that you are to know all about the 
mill matters,” I said evasively. 

“And about your matters too. Why didn’t you 
tell me about the boat, and your going after her ? ” 

“Because I didn’t choose to do so, sir.” 

I did not like his manner of speech, and I spoke 
defiantly. Had he been more reasonable in his ac- 
tions I should have answered him as respectfully as 
was possible. 

“You didn’t choose to do so?” he repeated. 

“ No, sir. It was my own private affair, and had 
nothing to do with my father’s estate.” 


94 


REUBEN STONE’S DISCOVERY. 


u Humph ! don’t you know that you are a minor ? ” 

“I do know that.” 

“And that you have nothing but what is included 
in your father’s estate, and subject to the claims I 
have against it ? 

“I don’t know what the law is on that point. I 
shall find out very soon.” 

Mr. Norton changed color. 

“What do you mean by that?” he asked in a low 
voice. 

“I mean that I am going to see the proper authori- 
ties, and have the case go on in the proper way.” 

“ Do you mean to say that you are going to see 
some lawyer?” 

I nodded. 

“You young fool, you ! What good will that do?” 
he retorted. 

“It may do a good deal of good. I don’t know 
anything about the law, and I want matters straight.” 

“You’ll incur a lot of unnecessary expense; that’s 
all. We can settle this matter just as well between 
ourselves. I have bills for all that is due me, and 
after these are paid the balance shall be held in trust 
for you.” 

I made no reply. Had Mr. Norton been a different 
kind of a man I might have been satisfied with his 
plan, but I could not bring myself to trust him. 


MR. NORTON’S MOVE. 


95 


“ Did you hear what I said ? ” he demanded. 

“I did, sir.” 

“And agree to it?” 

“No, sir; I am going to see Squire Slocum about 
the matter.” 

“ You will gain nothing by it.” 

“I shall be better satisfied.” 

“Do you mean to say that you don’t trust me?” 

To this I made no reply. 

“ Answer me ! ” 

“I’m going to have the thing settled by law, sir.” 

“And how soon?” he sneered. 

“As soon as possible. I’ll go and see Squire Slo- 
cum to-morrow.” 

I had hardly uttered the words when Mr. Norton 
grasped me by the collar and jammed me up against 
the wall. 

“You’ll do nothing of the kind!” he foamed. “I 
won’t have the money squandered in court!” 

“ Let go of me ! ” I cried. 

“No, I won’t; until you promise to behave and do 
as I say ! ” 

“I — I — won’t promise.” 

Mr. Norton’s grasp was a tight one, and I was in 
danger of choking. I tried to break away, but he 
held me fast. 

“You will promise!” he stormed. “I am not to 
be tricked by a boy ! ” 


96 


REUBEN STONE’S DISCOVERY. 


For reply I kicked out with my right boot as hard 
as I could. The blow caught the man in the shin, 
and howling with pain he relaxed his grip, and I 
squirmed away and made for the door. 

“ Stop ! stop ! ” 

“I won’t stop,” I returned, when I was at a safe 
distance. “I am not to be treated like a dog.” 

44 Come here, Reuben ! I’m not going to treat you 
like a dog. I only want you to act reasonably.” 

“I am acting reasonably.” 

44 No, you’re not. Come in here and get supper 
ready. It’s time we had it — going on eight o’clock.” 

What was I to do? I was tremendously hungry, 
and to a growing boy his appetite is an important 
thing. I lingered on the doorstep. 

“Come in here and prepare supper,” he repeated. 

44 Will you promise not to touch me if I do?” 

44 Yes, I’ll promise,” he replied somewhat doggedly. 

For an instant more I hesitated, and then I re- 
entered the living-room of the mill. Mr. Norton did 
not offer to lay hands on me, and I set to work 
getting the evening meal on the table. 

“Do you know this Carney?” he asked after a 
long spell of silence. 

44 1 know of him,” I replied briefly. 

44 Who were the other two men ? ” he went on, 
pulling out his pipe and filling it. 


mr. Norton’s move. 


97 


“Strangers around here,” I said, but did not add 
that they were the two that had called oil him dur- 
ing my absence. 

“ Were they with this Carney when he went away ? ” 

“Yes, sir.” 

Mr. Norton got up and took several turns about 
the room. 

“Got that supper ready?” he asked abruptly. 

“ Almost.” 

“Well, hurry up! I want to go down to Bend 
Center this evening.” 

“This evening!” I exclaimed. “It’s rather late.” 

“Isn’t the tavern open?” 

“I suppose it is.” 

There was another period of silence, and we sat 
down to eat. I wondered what had put Mr. Norton 
in the notion of going to the Bend that night. Was 
he really going to the tavern, or was he going to 
head me off by seeing Squire Slocum before I had 
the chance of doing so? 

It did not take him five minutes to finish, and 
then he arose and put on his hat. 

“Do you know the way?” I asked. 

“Of course I do,” he snarled. “Didn’t I live here 
years ago ?” 

That was true ; and this put the thought into my 
mind that perhaps he was going to call on some old 
acquaintance. 


98 


REUBEN STONE’S DISCOVERY. 


Bat then I remembered that one of the two stran- 
gers had said that something was to be done that 
night. Did Mr. Norton propose to take a hand in this? 

“When will you be back?” 

“In an hour or so. You had better go to bed. 
I suppose you are tired.” 

“Yes, sir.” 

In a moment more Mr. Norton was gone, and I 
was left alone. I cleared away the dishes, and then 
sat down in the big rocker to think matters over. 

I was confused over the things that had happened 
since Mr. Norton’s arrival. His claims and the affair 
of the Catch Me bewildered me. I was but a boy, 
brought up almost in the backwoods, and I could 
not reason out what was going on. 

\ 

But I was satisfied that something was wrong. It 
seemed to be in the very air, and I could not help 
but feel it. 

Then my mind reverted to my father’s untimely 
end, and I shed bitter tears as I thought over how 
I had been thus suddenly left alone in the world. 

My meditations were interrupted by a heavy knock 
on the door. I sprang to my feet, wondering who 
the visitor could be. 

An instant later the knock was repeated, even 
louder than before. I bade the person enter. The 
door swung open, and I found myself face to face 
with Andy Carney ! 


mr. Norton’s move. 


99 


I was startled, and stepped back. The fisherman 
saw that I was alone, and he shut the door behind 
him and locked it. 

“ Carney ! ” I exclaimed. 

“Yes, it’s me,” he replied. “Guess, young fellow, 
you didn’t just expect to have me call on you.” And 
he leered at me wickedly. 

I began to feel uneasy at once. There was nothing 
at band by wdiich I could defend myself. 

“ What do you want ? ” I asked, as coolly as I could. 

“ I come over to get even with you. What do 
you mean by setting Rich Williams on my track?” 

“Mr. Williams was after his boat.” 

“Thought you said it was your boat?” 

“ I thought it was ; but the man who gave it to 
me didn’t pay for it, and so I had to give it up. Did 
you see Mr. Williams?” 

“Did I see him?” The fellow uttered a short 
laugh. “Yes, I seen him; and it was all I could do 
to get away. But I want you to understand that 
you have got to shoulder this scrape. I’ve got noth- 
ing to do with it.” 

“You altered the boat,” I returned; “and you 
tried to steal her too.” 

“ Stop right there ! ” he cried. “ Do you see this ? 
I mean business.” And as he spoke he drew out a 


100 


REUBEN STONE’S DISCOVERY. 


CHAPTER XII. 

A MIDNIGHT CRIME. 

I SAW the pistol, and I was properly alarmed. It 
is said that there are those who can look in the bar- 
rel of such a weapon unflinchingly. If so, I am not 
one of the kind. 

I did my best to get out of range ; and seeing this, 
Carney laughed again. 

“Scared you, did I?” he said. 

“I don’t care to have a pistol pointed at me.” 

“No, I suppose not, nor a gun either,” with another 
laugh. 

“What do you want here?” 

“I told you I’d come to get square with you.” 

“ What do you intend to do ? ” 

“ Anybody here with you ? ” 

“None of your business!” 

“ Hold up there ! ” 

And again the weapon was pointed at my head. 

“ This is my house, and I want you to leave it,” I 
returned as steadily as I could. 

“I’ll leave it when I please, 
shouted at the top of his voice. 


Hullo there ! ” he 


A MIDNIGHT CRIME. 


101 


I expected to see some one enter in response to 
his call, but I was mistaken. 

“Guess you are alone,” he went on after a pause. 
“ Now tell me, how much money have you got in 
the house?” 

I was startled at this question. Undoubtedly the 
man meant to rob me. 

“Haven’t a dollar.” 

“ Come, now, no lying.” 

“I have told you the truth.” 

“Then I shall take a look around myself.” 

“ Did you come here to steal ? ” I demanded. 

“ None of your business ! Sit down in that chair, 
and don’t you dare to move until I tell you.” 

And Carney emphasized his words with a shake of 
the pistol. 

I sat down in the chair as directed, and the fisher- 
man began a rapid search of the apartment. It was 
not long before he came across the hand-satchel Mr. 
Norton had carried when he arrived. 

“ Locked, eh? ” he said, as he examined it. “ Where 
is the key?” 

“ I haven’t it ! It belongs to my uncle.” 

“Your uncle! Where is he?” 

“ Just stepped out.” 

“ Glad you told me. I’ll get through before he 
returns.” Carney stepped to the mantel-shelf and 


102 


REUBEN STONE’S DISCOVERY. 


took off a number of small things of value. “ You 
are sure about that money ? ” 

“I know I haven’t a dollar,” I returned. 

“ Turn out your pockets.” 

“ I’ll see you in Halifax first! ” I burst out. “ You 
sha’n’t go a step farther in your doings, not if I 
have to die for it ! ” 

And watching my chance, I sprang at the man, and 
pushed his pistol aside. 

He was surprised at my temerity, and for a moment 
I had the best of the battle ; but then he gathered 
himself together, and sent me sprawling on the floor. 

“ Now lay there, and don’t you dare to move ! ” he 
commanded. “I don’t want to be too ugly, but I 
will be if you don’t mind what I say.” 

Then leaving me half dazed, he went hurriedly 
through the other rooms, gathering quite a number 
of things, some of which he stuffed in his pockets, 
and others in an old valise he found in the mill-room. 

“ Now I guess I’m square,” he said, when he had 
finished. u Don’t you dare to follow me or give me 
away, Stone, or it will be the worse for you. I ain’t 
a man to be trifled with, and don’t you forget it.” 

Then he passed out of the door and was gone. 

Oh, how I wished that I had a pistol at that mo- 
ment ! I am not a bloodthirsty fellow, but it galled 
me to see this ruffian walk off with my property. 


A MIDNIGHT CHIME. 


103 


But the only weapon in the mill was an old gun, 
and this was unloaded, and had not been fired for 
several months; in fact, not since the winter, when 
I had gone rabbit-hunting. 

No sooner had the fellow departed, however, than 
I made up my mind to find out where he was going 
to, and, if possible, to recover what he had taken. 

I got down the old gun, and hastily cleaning out 
the barrel, loaded it up ; then putting on my hat I 
stole out of the mill, and in the direction that Carney 
had taken. 

There was no moon, but the stars were shining 
brightly, and it was far from being absolutely dark. 

Carney had gone off in the direction of the main 
road, and soon I caught sight of him some distance 
ahead. I made as little noise as possible as I drew 
nearer to him. 

The man walked rapidly until he passed Hallett’s 
house ; then he made for the lake, and I rightfully 
conjectured that he was going to his boat, which he 
had left some distance up the shore. 

As he approached the water, I drew nearer to him. 
He passed down a bed of rocks, and there hidden in 
the bushes was his craft. 

Just as he prepared to cast off I hailed him. He 
was startled, and turned as if to pull out his pistol. 

“ Stop that ! ” I ordered. “ I have a gun now, and 
I can fire as straight as you.” 


104 


REUBEN STONE’S DISCOVERY. 


“ So you’ve followed me,” lie sneered. 

“I have. Just you hand over that stuff.” 

“ Not much ! I took some trouble to get it, and 
I mean to keep it. It isn’t much; but every little 
counts.” 

“I’ll give you just one minute to hand it over,” 
I went on; and I pointed the gun at his head. 

Suddenly he jumped behind the mast, and shoved 
the boat from the shore. I fired one shot in the air, 
to scare him, — for it was not in my heart to shoot 
any one, — and then plunged into the shallow water 
after him. 

But he was beyond me, and the next instant he 
had his sail up, and was leaving the shore rapidly. 
He kept well out of range, so I could not have hit 
him even if I had wanted to do so. 

“ You’re not smart enough for me ! ” he called back 
tauntingly. And in a moment he passed out of sight 
in the gloom. 

I stood still for a while, not knowing what to do 
next. Following the fellow had been of no avail. 
He had got away and taken with him all the valuable 
stuff that was lying around the mill. 

There was nothing to do but to return home and 
make the best of the matter. And this I did, pausing 
in front of the Hallett homestead and wondering if 
it would do any good to awaken old Mr. Hallett 
and ask him for his assistance in going after Carney. 


A MIDNIGHT CRIME. 


105 


But tliis I decided not to do, for the old man was 
very fussy, and we were not exactly on the best of 
terms. 

When I reached the mill all was quiet and just 
as I had left it, less than an hour before. I looked at 
the old clock that stood in one corner of the living- 
room and was astonished to find that it was already 
past midnight. 

I sat down in the rocker with my brain busy think- 
ing. But as moment after moment passed, my head 
sank back and my eyelids gradually closed. Every- 
thing was quiet save the loud tick, tick, of the old 
clock, and this soon put me into a sound sleep. 

Once or twice I came very near waking up. Then 
I thought I was aroused by the flash of a bright light 
and a peculiar sensation in my nose and throat. But 
I immediately sank back, and went into a deeper 
sleep than ever. 

' When I awoke it was sunrise, and the light was 
streaming into the window and across the floor. I 
jumped to my feet ; and as I did so, a small stone of 
peculiar brilliancy, lying on the floor, attracted my 
attention. 

I picked the stone up and examined it. If it was 
not a diamond, it was a fine imitation. I wondered 
from whence it had come. 

I could remember of no one about the mill having 


106 REUBEN STONE’S DISCOVERY. 

a diamond. To my knowledge Mr. Norton did not 
wear any such expensive ornament. The only man 
I knew of in the vicinity who sported such a stone 
was Mr. Jackson, the storekeeper, and on his visit 
to the mill he had not been near the living-room. 

I gave the stone a second examination. As I did 
so I heard a footstep outside and slipped the thing 
into my pocket. 

The next moment Mr. Norton came into the room 
from the sleeping apartment beyond. His face was 
pale and I wondered when he had come in, and if 
he had slept much. 

“Woke up, have you?” he exclaimed. “ ’Tain’t 
a very nice place to go to sleep in.” 

“ I found the chair very comfortable,” I returned, 
trying to determine what would be best to say in 
regard to the robbery. 

“Why didn’t you go to bed?” 

“ I didn’t get a chance. I — ” 

“Never mind with your excuses. Have you got 
breakfast ready?” 

“No, sir; but I soon will have.” 

Mr. Norton took a pull from the flask he always 
kept in his pocket, and then got out his pipe and fell 
to smoking. 

I set the table in silence and started to make the 
coffee. 


A MIDNIGHT CRIME. 


107 


I noticed lie was very uneasy, and looked at me 
half a dozen times rather curiously. 

Presently his eye wandered over to where his valise 
had stood and he noticed that the bag was missing. 

“ What have you done with my grip?” he asked. 

“It was stolen last night,” I said, as steadily as 
I could. 

“ Stolen ! ” 

“Yes, sir.” 

“You can’t mean it!” he ejaculated, facing me 
with a look of horror on his face. 

“It was stolen, and so were a lot of other things.” 

“ Boy, you lie ! ” 

“It’s the truth.” 

“ I don’t believe a word of it!” gasped Mr. Norton, 
catching his breath. 

I could see that he was fearfully agitated, and won- 
dered what the valise could have contained. 

“I tell the truth. It was stolen along with a lot 
of other things that belonged to the mill. Andy — ” 

“You can’t fool me ! ” shouted Mr. Norton. “You 
have taken those things away yourself. I thought 
from the start that you might be deeper than you 
appeared, and now I’m sure of it. I was a fool to 
be taken in. Tell me this instant everything you 
have found out ! ” 


108 


REUBEN STONE'S DISCOVERY. 


CHAPTER XIII. 

at squire slocum’s house. 

It was evident that Mr. Enos Norton was terribly 
in earnest. Compared with his present state, his for- 
mer anger appeared as child’s play. 

“ I have told you the exact truth, ” I replied. 
“Andy Carney came in here last night and stole the 
things.” 

“ Andy Carney ! The man you say stole the 
boat? ” 

“ Yes, sir.” 

Mr. Norton was silent for a moment. 

“ Reuben, I don’t believe your story,” he cried at 
length. “You’ve taken that valise yourself, and put 
away the other things to make your story appear 
plausible. Now, I want you to tell me exactly all you 
have discovered, otherwise it will go hard with you.” 

I remained silent. What more was there to say? 

“Did you hear me?” stormed my guardian. 

“I hear you,” I replied as -calmly as I could, which 
is not saying much. 

“Well, why don’t you answer then?” 


AT SQUIRE SLOCUM’S HOUSE. 


109 


“ I have told the truth.” 

I had hardly uttered the words before Mr. Norton 
sprang at me. 

“You will find I am not to be trifled with!” he 
exclaimed. 

“ And you will find out that I am not to be treated 
like a dog,” I returned. And I ran across the 
room and towards the door leading to the store-room. 

“ No, you don’t ! You sha’n’t escape me like this ! ” 
he shouted. And he ran after me and placed himself 
directly in front of the door. 

For an instant I was dismayed. Then I thought 
of the window close at hand, and throwing it open, 
sprang out. 

“Stop! stop!” he cried as he darted towards the 
opening. 

Instead of heeding his command, I made the best 
possible use of my time in putting a good distance 
between us. I had got at least three rods away from 
the house when he appeared at the door and started 
after me. 

“ I tell you to stop, Reuben ! ” he called for at 
least the tenth time. 

“I’m going to the village,” I yelled back. 

“If you don’t come back it will be the worse for 
you ! ” 

“I’ll chance it.” 


110 REUBEN STONE’S DISCOVERY. 

A look down towards the boat-landing proved that 
my boat was not there, and I hurried along the main 
road. I did not stop running until I was fully a 
quarter of a mile from the mill, and then it was only 
to drop into a quick walk. 

As I hurried along I thought over my situation, 
and made up my mind that the best thing I could do 
was to call on Squire Slocum and state my case. 
The squire had been a warm friend of my father, 
and I felt certain that he would give me some sound 
advice, and tell me how to proceed. 

I reached Bend Center long before seven o’clock. 
I was not certain whether I would find Squire Slocum 
up, so I walked around to the back of the house 
to ask the hired girl when I could best see him. 

“The squire went over to Bayport an hour ago,” 
she said. 

“To Bayport?” I repeated. “It’s pretty early in 
the morning.” 

“There’s some trouble at the bank there,” replied 
the girl. “A messenger came over and woke us all 
up. He wanted the squire right away, and he had 
to go off without waiting to get his breakfast.” 

My curiosity was aroused at once. 

“What was the trouble at the bank?” I asked. 

“I don’t know.” 

“And you don’t know when the squire will re- 
turn?” 


AT SQUIRE S-LOCUM's HOUSE. 


Ill 


“No, sir.” 

I walked away slowly, my head filled with, all 
sorts of thoughts. Could there be any connection 
between the visit of the two strangers and the trouble 
over at Bayport? and where had Mr. Norton gone 
during the previous evening? Had he spent the time 
at the tavern? 

I soon had a chance to solve the last question. 
A tall, ragged fellow came along, and I recognized 
him at once as Joe Kent, a ne’er-do-well of the 
Bend. 

“ Hullo, Joe ! ” I sang out. 

^ “ Hullo, Rube,” he returned. “ What brings you to 
the Bend so early in the morning?” 

“A little business, Joe. Tell me, were you over 
at Bender’s tavern last evening?” 

“What you want to know for?” 

“I want to know who was there.” 

“ I was there from about eight o’clock till Bender 
closed up.” 

' “Was there a tall stranger there?” 

“No; only Bender, Hallet, Forms, and myself.” 

“No one else?” 

‘“No.” 

“You are sure?” 

“Of course I am. Why, what’s up?” 

“Nothing, Joe. I am much obliged;” and I hur- 
ried away before he could say any more. 


112 


REUBEN STONE’S DISCOVERY. 


I Avalked down the main street hardly knowing 
what to do next. In front of the post-office I met 
Ford, who had just come from his home to look for 
a job of some kind. 

“ Well, Rube, how do. you make out with your 
uncle ? ” he asked, as he jumped down from the 
barrel upon which he had been sitting. 

“Don’t call him my uncle, Dan,” I returned. “He 
may be a relative according to law, but he isn’t in 
heart.” 

“Why, has he been after you again?” 

“Rather,” I returned bitterly. And taking Ford 
aside I told him of all that had occurred. 

“ The mean rascal ! ” exclaimed the ex-mill-hand. 
“It would do me good to punch his head.” 

“ I don’t know what to do,” I went on. “ If I 
go back he may do me up.” 

“He wouldn’t if I was around,” replied Ford with 
a decided shake of the head. 

“ I am satisfied that he is a wicked man at heart,” 
I went on. “ It is an awful surprise to ~ me too, 
because I always heard father speak well of him.” 

“You can’t tell how some men will act when they 
have a little power. He, no doubt, thinks he can 
boss you just as he pleases.” 

“Well, he’ll find out that he is mistaken.” 

There was a moment of silence, and then Ford 
said, — 


at squire slocum’s house. 113 

“Tell you what to do, Rube. You go back and 
I’ll go with you.” 

“ Thank you, Dan ; but you will lose your time 
by that.” 

“ A day or two won’t matter. It isn’t likely I’ll 
strike anything at once, things are so dull.” 

“Maybe Mr. Norton won’t have you around.” 

“ Then I’ll sit on a rock on the other side of 
the road,” laughed Ford. “ He can’t stop me from 
doing that.” 

“Suppose you go back with me and keep out of 
sight until I give you some sort of a signal,” I sug- 
gested. 

“That’s an idea. If I show myself at once he’ll 
keep in till I go away.” 

We decided to act on this plan at once. There 
was no telling when Squire Slocum would get back 
from Bayport, and, strange as it may seem, I did 
not like the idea of leaving Mr. Norton in sole 
charge of the mill. 

He knew nothing of the business, which must be 
looked after ; and besides, I was afraid to trust him. 

We started at once. When in sight of the mill, 
Ford stepped into the bushes, saying he would draw 
up close on the water side, and if I needed him 
to give a loud whistle. 

This arranged, I walked boldly up to the mill 


114 


11EUBEN STONE’S DISCOVERY. 


door and entered. Mr. Norton was nowhere to be 
seen; but an instant later he appeared with a flushed 
face. 

“Oh, so you’ve concluded to come back,” he said. 

“ I didn’t intend to stay away for good,” I re- 
plied, as lightly as possible, though I watched him 
closely. 

“ Have you seen the squire ? ” 

I paid no attention to this question, and presently 
he repeated it. 

“I was at the squire’s house,” I responded. 

“ And what did he say ? ” asked Mr. Norton, though 
he did not appear to be as much interested as I sup- 
posed would be likely. 

I pretended not to hear, and passed into the living 
room. Here on the table everything remained just 
as I had left it. Mr. Norton had evidently no appe- 
tite for breakfast. 

“ Did you hear my question ? ” he demanded. 

“I heard it.” 

“Why don’t you answer then?” 

“Because I don’t choose to do so.” 

I expected this would bring out another storm of 
passion. But I was mistaken. Mr. Norton merely 
shut his mouth hard, and walked up and down the 
room. 

“ Reuben, you are smarter than I thought you 


at squire slocum’s house. 115 

were,” he said presently. “ I thought you were a 
mere backwoods boy, but I find I am mistaken.” 

“Do yon want your breakfast, sir?” 

“No; I’m not hungry. You sit down and eat.” 

I did so, and he walked around and eyed me 
curiously. 

“ Reuben, your father died rather poor,” he con- 
tinued. “ He was a hard worker, but he didn’t 
know how to manage.” x 

“ It was the hard times, and not the managing,” 
I put in, eager to defend the parent I had just lost. 

“When your father fell over the ravine, he and 
I were just getting ready to make a pile of money,” 
went on Mr. Norton slowly. “If he had lived two 
months longer he would have been a rich man.” 

In my wonder at this statement I stopped eating 
at once. 

“You must be joking,” I cried. 

“No; it’s the sober truth. We had all our plans 
ready when your father’s death upset everything. It 
was a splendid scheme, and only needed a little nerve 
to carry it out.” 

“And what kind of a scheme was it?” I asked 
eagerly, for this news was totally new to me. 

“ It’s the same one mentioned in those letters in my 
valise,” replied Mr. Norton. 


116 


REUBEN STONE’S DISCOVERY. 


CHAPTER XIV. 

MR. NORTON’S STATEMENT. 

I WAS more mystified than ever. Evidently Mr. 
Norton still supposed that I had taken his bag and 
examined its contents. 

“ What was the scheme ? ” 

“ Didn’t yon read the letters ? ” 

“ I didn’t even see them. Carney has the valise, as 
well as the other things ; and if you want to get the 
stuff back you had better go after him.” 

“You still stick to that statement?” 

“Of course, for it’s the truth.” 

Mr. Norton drew a long breath. I felt pretty cer- 
tain that at last he believed me. 

“ W ell, if Carney did really steal the bag, why 
didn’t you stop him ? ” 

“ I couldn’t. He had a pistol, and he threatened 
to shoot me if I moved out of the chair.” 

“ I ought to get that bag back,” he went on, with 
a decided shake of his head. 

“What was the scheme father and you had?” I 
asked. 


mr. Norton’s statement. 


117 


“Can you keep a secret?” questioned Mr. Norton 
in a low voice. 

“ Certainly I can,” I replied, never dreaming of 
what was coming. 

“It was a plan to get hold of twenty thousand 
dollars worth of bonds and cash,” whispered the man. 

“ How?” was all I could say. 

“Out of the bank.” 

“But how could you do it?” I asked innocently. 

Mr. Norton looked at me with a sneer on his lips. 

“ Reuben, you’re a fool ! ” he cried. “ You haven’t 
any sand in you at all.” 

“A little while ago you said I was pretty smart,” 
I returned, for it seemed about the only thing to 
say. 

“You are in some ways, but in others you are as 
blind as a mule. Of course, you don’t suppose the 
bank officials would hand the amount right over if 
it was asked for.” 

“ Then I don’t see how father or you could get it, 
unless you had that sum on deposit.” 

“You don’t, eh?” 

“No, I don’t.” 

“Then you’re a fool.” 

And Mr. Norton turned on his heel. 

Suddenly a wave of light broke over me. I 
jumped to my feet, trembling from head to foot. 


118 REUBEN STONE’S DISCOVERY. • 

“ Do you mean to say you were going to steal 
that money ? ” I demanded. 

“ Hush ! not so loud.” 

“That isn’t answering my question,” I went on, 
ignoring his caution. 

“We were going to get that money, that’s all I 
have to say,” returned my guardian with a shrug 
of his shoulders. 

“ Perhaps you were, but not my father,” I cried, 
with flashing eyes. “You will never make me be- 
lieve that he consented to do anything that was 
wrong ! ” 

“You don’t know anything about it,” retorted Mr. 
Norton angrily. “Your father was hard up, and that 
was. the only way to get money. It was his plan, 
not mine. I have always been an honest man, even 
though I was poor.” 

“ Mr. Norton, you are a villain ! ” I cried in high 
indignation. “ My father never did a willfully wrong 
action in his life, and I won’t allow you or any 
other man to say he did.” 

“ Come, come, don’t get on a high horse,” replied 
my guardian. “You know just how poor your father 
was. His estate is deeply in my debt, and I want 
the money paid. I have found out that there are 
other claims against this mill, and that will leave you 
without a penny. Now if you will only listen to 


119 





mr. Norton’s statement. 

me, I will put you in a way of getting so much that 
you can leave work alone for a good while to 
come.” 

And the man placed his hand on my shoulder as 
if to thus persuade me to accede to his wishes. 

I threw the hand off. 

“ Don’t you dare to touch me!” I cried. “You 
are a bad man, and I will have nothing to do with 
you. You may be my uncle, but you are so in law 
only, and not in my heart.” 

“Take care!” stormed Mr. Norton, now thoroughly 
aroused. “ I won’t allow any one, least of all a boy, 
to talk to me like that.” 

“I don’t care. I never liked you from the start, 
and I want you to know it. I shall not consider 
you my guardian any longer.” 

“You won’t, eh?” 

“No, sir, I won’t.” 

“ Then I’ll hand you over to the police the first 
chance I get. I can tell them a fine story about you.” 

At that instant a shadow fell across my window, 
and looking up, we saw four men approaching the 
mill. They were Constable Pointer, President Web- 
ster of the Bayport Bank, and two strangers. 

“Constable Pointer!” I exclaimed, as the quartet 
filed in. 

“Ha!” cried Mr. Norton, and I saw him turn 
pale. “What do you men want here?” 


120 


REUBEN STONE’S DISCOVERY. 


“Reuoen, we want you,” said the constable, as he 
placed his hand on my shoulder. 

“ Want me!” I cried, starting back. 

“ Exactly.” 

“About that boat matter?” I asked. 

“No, not about any boat matter,” put in President 
Webster. “ Constable, I demand that the boy be 
searched.” 

“What for?” I asked, and I saw that Mr. Norton 
was equally curious to know. 

There was no reply to this, and I backed away. 

“Stop, Rube,” said Pointer. “Remember you are 
now under arrest.” 

“Arrest!” I gasped. 

“Exactly, young man,” added Mr. Webster. 
“Search him at once.” 

I was too much taken aback to protest, and the 
constable quickly turned my pockets inside out. 

“ Nothing much of value,” said Pointer. 

“Are you sure?” questioned the president of the 
bank eagerly. 

The constable made another search, and finally 
brought to light the stone I had picked up on the 
floor. 

“Here is one of ’em!” he cried. “By George, 
Rube, to tell the honest truth, I didn’t think it of 
you,” he added in a lower tone. 


Mli. NORTON S STATEMENT. 


121 


“Didn’t think what of me?” 

“That you would turn thief.” 

“I haven’t done so.” 

“ Oh, come, it won’t do to deny this.” 

“You say my nephew has turned thief?” put in 
Mr. Norton, pressing forward. 

“ Are you this boy’s uncle ? ” asked President 
Webster. 

“Yes; and his guardian too.” 

“It’s a pity you wouldn’t guard him better,” 
sneered the big man from Bayport. 

“What has he stolen?” asked my guardian, with 
apparent deep concern. 

“He’s helped to steal a bag of diamonds from one 
of the safes in the Bayport Bank,” returned Consta- 
ble Pointer. “ Is this one of the stones, Mr. Dit- 
son ? ” he continued, turning to one of the strangers. 

“I think it is,” was the reply, after an examina- 
tion. “What do you think, Mr. Camp?” he added 
to the other stranger. 

“I should say it was,” was the quick reply. “It 
ought to be plain enough that such a boy would 
never have a diamond of his own like this.” 

“I didn’t steal that diamond!” I burst out. 

“Perhaps you will state where you did get it?” 
remarked Mr. Webster sarcastically. 

“I found it here on the floor.” 


122 


REUBEN STONE’S DISCOVERY. 


There was a general sniff at this. 

“Quite likely!” said Mr. Ditson. “Diamonds are 
not lying around so loosely as all that. I am pretty 
sure, officer, you have got one of the thieves. The 
question is, has he any more of the stones?” 

“ We’ll have to search around and see,” said Pointer. 

“Did you know your nephew was out last night? ” 
asked Mr. Webster of Mr. Norton sharply. 

“Yes, he was,” replied my guardian. 

“ How long? ” 

“I don’t know when he came in,” was the answer. 
“But, oh, sir, I cannot believe that he is a thief!” 

And Mr. Norton’s voice trembled with apparent 
emotion. 

“And neither I am!” I cried. “He was out as 
well as I was, and I found that stone right here 
on the floor early this morning.” 

“Too thin,” sneered Mr. Webster. “Hold him, 
Pointer. Have we a right to search the house?” 

“ Yes, yes ; search all you please,” put in Mr. 
Norton hastily. “If the dear boy has done wrong, 
let it be made right as quickly as possible ! ” 

At that moment Ford came in. He had seen the 
crowd of men, and he wanted to know what was 
up. 

“ Can’t make me believe that Rube stole any dia- 
monds!” he ejaculated, when he had heard the story. 


mr. Norton’s statement. 


123 


“I’d rather believe his uncle here was the guilty 
party.” 

He had hardly spoken before Mr. Norton had him 
by the throat. 

“You scamp!” he howled. “Call me a thief!” 


124 REUBEN STONE’S DISCOVERY. 


CHAPTER XV. 

SOME FACTS IN THE CASE. 

I was completely dumfounded by the accusations 
that were brought against me. 

The constable and the others were sure in their 
minds that I had stolen, or assisted at stealing, some 
diamonds from one of the safes in the Bayport Bank. 

How they had come to track me I did not know ; 
but I realized that the fact of my having that diamond 
in my possession, would carry much weight against 
me. 

The story that I had found the stone upon the 
floor of the living-room of the mill was not be- 
lieved, although it was the exact truth. 

Mr. Norton’s manner put a sudden suspicion into 
my mind. He had told a deliberate falsehood in 
saying that I had been away from the mill the pre- 
vious night. He must certainly have come in while 
I was sleeping in the rocker, and seen me. 

He had spoken to me on the subject of obtaining 
money dishonestly. To my mind no fair and square 
man would have done so. Was Ford’s suspicion 


SOME FACTS IN THE CASE. 


125 


against him correct? I was half inclined to think 
that such was the fact. 

Perhaps some of my readers will think it odd that 
I did not arrive at this conclusion sooner. Let them 
remember that I was but a boy, and that the ad- 
venture with the sloop, coupled with the news of 
my father’s death and my guardian’s arrival, had 
completely upset me. Had my mind been more at 
ease I might have acted differently from the start. 

“Let go of me!” cried Ford sternly. 

And catching Mr. Norton by the arm he shoved 
him several feet away. 

“I won’t allow anybody to talk to me in this 
fashion,” went on my guardian. “ The idea of insin- 
uating that I know anything about this robbery ! ” 

“Where did the boy spend the night?” asked 
Pointer, as soon as he could get a chance to talk. 

“I don’t know. He didn’t come in till a little 
while ago,” returned Mr. Norton. 

“That isn’t so!” I exclaimed. “I was herefrom 
half-past twelve until breakfast-time.” 

“ Where were you from seven o’clock yesterday until 
half past twelve? ” questioned Mr. Webster sharply. 

“ Here most of the time. I left about half-past 
eleven to go after a fellow who stole some things 
from the. mill.” 


“Another thief?” 


126 


KEUBEN STONE’S DISCOVERY. 


“ Yes, sir. His name is Andy Carney. He came 
here to get square with me on account of Mr. Wil- 
liams’s boat.” 

“I know nothing about that,” returned the bank 
president. 

“Where are the two men that were with you, 
Rube ? ” asked the constable. 

“Two men with you?” repeated Mr. Norton, with 
a slight start. 

“I haven’t been with any two men,” I returned. 
“ I don’t know what you are talking about. Mr. 
Norton was away last night, not I.” 

“You bad boy! how can you say such a thing?” 
burst out my guardian. “I haven’t been outside of 
the mill since yesterday afternoon.” 

“ That is not true ! You went out right after 
supper ! ” 

“Come, come! this is wasting time,” said Mr. Dit- 
son. “Pointer, see if you can find any more of the 
diamonds.” 

“Will you look after the boy? ” 

“ Certainly.” 

“You had better look after Mr. Norton,” I putin. 

“What!” screamed that individual. 

“My word ought to be as good as his,” I added. 

“Certainly,” said Pointer. “I will have to arrest 
both of you.” 


SOME FACTS IN THE CASE. 


127 


“ Arrest me!” ejaculated my guardian, and for 
the moment all the color forsook his face. 

“Yes, sir. You will be a witness, if nothing else. 
Will you go along peaceably?” 

“ Why — why — I suppose so,” stammered the man. 
“But, nevertheless, it is an outrage.” 

To this the constable did not reply, but went off 
to search the mill for more precious stones. 

While he was gone my thoughts were busy. Was 
my guardian the guilty party? and were the two 
strangers I had found at the mill his partners in 
the crime? It seemed more than likely. 

The thought was a dismaying one, almost as dis- 
heartening to me at that instant as the fact that 
I was under arrest. The only relative I possessed 
in the world a criminal ! 

It was a bitter thought, and for the moment drove 
everything else from my mind. Meanwhile Pointer 
made a search of the mill and all the rooms with- 
out success. 

“ If there are any more of these stones here they’re 
well hidden,” he said. “Suppose we go to Squire 
Slocum’s office, and have these two put in charge, 
and then go after the men that helped on the bur- 
glary ? ” 

This was considered good advice, and five minutes 
later the mill was locked up and we all started 


128 


REUBEN STONE’S DISCOVERY. 


down the main road, Ford beside me, telling me to 
keep up my courage, that he was sure I was in- 
nocent, and that all would yet come right. 

Half an hour later found us assembled in the 
squire’s office, and a brief hearing began. 

I told my story “ as straight as a string.” Mr. 
Norton tried to interrupt me a number of times, 
but Squire Slocum promptly shut him up, and I 
had a full hearing. 

Then my guardian had his say. It was but little 
more than has been told. Squire Slocum touched sev- 
eral times on the fact that Mr. Norton had come to 
the mill under rather peculiar circumstances, to which 
that individual replied that that had nothing to do 
with the case. 

“Perhaps not,” replied the squire coldly. 

“ But I want that matter investigated too,” I put 
in. “ Squire Slocum, you were always a good friend 
to my father, and I don’t know whether this man 
is doing right or not according to law. I know he 
hasn’t acted as a fair and square guardian ought to 
do.” 

“I will do so later, Reuben,” was the reply. “But 
this has nothing to do with the case on hand. You 
say you know nothing more, and that you feel sure 
those two strangers are the guilty parties? ” 

“ Yes, sir.” 





: 


Page 


I REACHED OUT AND PULLED ON THE HEAVY BEARD 



SOME FACTS IN THE CASE. 129 

“And that Mr. Norton and Carney are also im- 
plicated ? ” 

“ I think so.” 

“The boy is a rascal!” shouted my guardian. 
“ He is — ” 

“Silence!” put in the squire. “I want no more 
interruptions from you.” 

“ Then I don’t want you to allow that boy — ” 

“ Stop ! ” thundered Squire Slocum, who could get 
awfully mad at times. “ Fuller,” he went on to one 
of the officers, “ take this man to the jail.” 

“To the jail!” cried Mr. Norton, falling back in 
astonishment. “What have I done?” 

“You are wanted as a witness, besides being im- 
pertinent. You shall have another hearing this after- 
noon, or sooner if the other thieves are caught.” 

“Other thieves! Do you consider — ” 

“I should have said the two thieves Pointer and 
the other officers are looking for,” corrected the 
squire. “Fuller, take Mr. Norton to jailer Harris.” 

And much against his will, my guardian was led 
out of the court room, quite a crowd following. 

“Reuben, I am sorry to see that you are mixed 
up in this case,” went on Squire Slocum in a lower 
tone. 

“ I am not guilty, Squire. I never helped to steal 
anything in my life.” 


130 


REUBEN STONE’S DISCOVERY. 


“ But the case looks black for you,” was the 
grave reply. “We have some strong evidence 
against you to hold you — ” 

“You mean the diamond I found?” 

“Not only that, but a number of other things.” 

“I should like to know what evidence you have?” 

“ Your boat was over at Bayport last night, and 
did not leave until after two o’clock.” 

“ Mr. Norton must have used it.” 

“Maybe, but that is not at present for me to de- 
cide. Then there are other things — ” 

“What other things?” 

“A small iron bar used to pry open the safe door 
was found, and it had your father’s name stamped 
upon it.” 

“ That is one that belonged to the mill. Mr. 
Norton or any one else might have carried it off.” 

“ But you were seen, Reuben, in Bayport at 
eleven o’clock last night, and you say you were 
not there at all.” 

“Seen!” I cried. “No, no, Squire! Who says 
so?” 

“Several people. They saw you on Maple Ave- 
nue, right near the bank.” 

“It was not I.” 

“These people are sure it was. Then President 
Webster remembered seeing you at the bank a few 


SOME FACTS IN THE CASE. 


131 


days ago, and he says the janitor remembers that 
you hung around a good deal, just at the time Mr. 
Ditson delivered the diamonds to him.” 

“ I was waiting for Mr. Markham, who had promised 
me a reward for saving his son from drowning.” 

“ But this Markham was a very peculiar man,” 
went on Squire Slocum. “Webster thinks he might 
have had something to do with the robbery, although 
we cannot tell anything about it.” 

“ I don’t think he did. I think there is some 
mistake about Mr. Markham’s account, but that is all. 
He was a gentleman, if I am any judge.” 

“We shall see. In the meantime I must place you 
under arrest.” 

“ Will you let me know as soon as these two men 
are found?” 

“Yes.” 

At this moment constable Pointer came in, and the 
squire told him to take me to the jailer, to be put in 
a cell apart from Mr. Norton. 

Feeling pretty downhearted, I followed Pointer 
from the office to the rooms below. Here Mr. Harris, 
the jailer, met us, and I was given over into his 
charge. 

“ We’ll make you as comfortable as possible,” said 
the jailer kindly. “ I know what it is to be falsely 
imprisoned, if that is your case. You shall have the 
best cell in the building, Rube.” 


132 


REUBEN STONE'S DISCOVERY. 


“What have you done with Mr. Norton?” 

“ Put him in a corner by himself. He raised such 
a fearful row.” 

A moment more and I was shown into a narrow 
cell, the door was closed and locked behind me, and 
I was a prisoner. 


A FRIEND IN NEED. 


133 


CHAPTER XVI. 

A FRIEND IN NEED. 

I WAS a prisoner in the Bend Center jail. It was 
far from being a pleasant situation, and with a heavy 
heart I sank down into a seat and gave myself up to 
my bitter feelings. 

For the past few days misfortunes had been piling 
themselves upon me, and I could not help but wonder 
what the end would be, or when it would be reached. 

My prison was a cold, stony place, scarcely eight 
feet square, and lighted by one narrow window, heavily 
barred, and facing a high brick wall a few feet beyond. 

At first I entertained some wild hope of trying 
to escape. The iron bars at the window were loose 
in the sill, and I was sure that by using all the 
strength at my command I could remove at least 
two of them, and thus make a space wide enough 
to allow the passage of my body. 

I was on the point of putting this plan into exe- 
cution when I paused and reflected that such a course 
would avail me nothing. I did not want to leave 
the district altogether, and to thus break jail would 


134 


REUBEN STONE'S DISCOVERY. 


only be taken as an evidence that I was guilty of 
tlie crime charged against me. 

So I sat down again, resolved to take matters as 
calmly as I could. There seemed to be no other 
prisoners in the building outside of Mr. Norton and 
myself; and after Squire Slocum and the crowd had 
left all became as silent as a graveyard. 

I wondered what my guardian was doing and 
thinking. Certainly nothing good ; for I w^as con- 
vinced beyond a doubt that Mr. Norton was a 
thorough rascal. 

Presently I heard a slight scraping sound far down 
the corridor. I hoped fervently that Pointer or some 
of the other officers would capture the two strangers, 
— Avery and Yates, — and recover the stolen dia- 
monds. 

At noon Mr. Harris, the jailer, brought me my 
dinner. I asked him a number of questions, but he 
politely but firmly declined to answer them. 

“ Can’t do it, prisoner,” he said. “ It’s against 
the rules.” 

And I was left alone once more. 

At length, about the middle of the afternoon, I 
heard a noise in the squire’s office overhead. Sev- 
eral men had entered, and a loud and rapid conver- 
sation was in progress. I listened, and was almost 
certain I distinguished the voice of Mr. Markham. 


A FRIEND IN NEED. 


135 


For some reason my heart gave a bound of joy. 
I felt sure he had come to assist me, notwithstand- 
ing all that had been said against him. 

Ten minutes passed ; then there was a noise on 
the stairs, and a moment later Squire Slocum, the 
jailer, and Mr. Markham appeared. 

“ W ell, my young friend, I see they have thought 
best to lock you up,” remarked Mr. Markham lightly, 
as he stepped into the cell and extended his hand 
to me cordially. 

“Yes, Mr. Markham, they have,” was all I could 
say. 

He gave my hand a tight grasp. 

“ You are having a pile of trouble,” he went on, 
“ and partly on my account.” 

“Why, you have nothing to do with the robbery,” 
I put in quickly. 

“ No, not exactly,” he laughed ; “ but I have 
caused you trouble enough in other ways.” 

“I thought you would straighten out matters some 
time,” I could not help replying. “I knew you 
were a gentleman, no matter what Mr. Webster or 
any one else said to the contrary.” 

“ Webster is a fool ! ” cried Mr. Markham with 
energy. “ A downright fool, and I told him so. 
Just because I had a slight trouble with my bank 
account, brought on by my clerk, he takes it for 
granted that I am a swindler.” 


136 REUBEN STONE’S DISCOVERY. 

And Mr. Markham’s eyes flashed, and he showed 
plainly that he was thoroughly aroused. 

44 I came back to Bay port to-day, in reply to a 
pretty sharp letter I received from Mr. Williams,” 
he went on. 44 1 had important business in New 
York, but when I saw what an awful mess things 
had got into here I took the first train. Williams 
was another of the idiots that thought I was going 
to swindle him simply because I left in a great hurry 
without writing him a check.” 

44 And he was convinced I was trying to rob him 
of his boat,” I said. 

“ So I have heard. But I have fixed that matter 
all up with him. The boat is paid for, and is at 
this moment lying at the wharf here in Bend Center. 
She is your property, and here is the bill of sale for 
her.” 

And Mr. Markham pulled an envelope from his 
pocket and passed it over. 

With hands that trembled I took the bill of sale 
and glanced it over. True enough, it certified that 
for the sum of four hundred dollars the Catch Me 
was now the sole property of Reuben Stone. 

44 Thank you, Mr. Markham,” I said. 44 1 — I — 
can’t say more, but I am — I am — ” 

44 Don’t try to say more,” laughed the gentleman. 
44 1 am ashamed of myself to think that my gift should 


A FRIEND IN NEED. 


13T 


have cost you so much trouble. But you shall lose 
nothing by me. I have not forgotten what more I 
intended to do for you.” 

“Well, Mr. Markham, about this other matter,” 
broke in Squire Slocum, who had thus far remained 
silent. 

“True, Squire, excuse me for keeping you waiting. 
Stone, I am told that they hold you on a very serious 
charge.” 

“ They do,” I returned. “But I am not guilty, sir.” 

“You don’t look like a fellow who would steal.” 

“I never took a thing that didn’t belong to me in 
my life, sir.” 

“I believe you.” 

“ Mr. W ebster thinks I am guilty, but I know 
nothing of the matter; that is, nothing but what I 
have told. Mr. Webster also insinuates that you 
might have had something to do with it,” I added, 
bound that Mr. Markham should know all. 

“ I heard something of that sort. I have also heard 
that there is a streak of insanity in the Webster 
family,” he added, with a twinkle in his eye that 
made even Squire Slocum smile. “He is so upset 
by this robbery that he doesn’t know what he is 
doing. I suppose he would accuse the President if 
it came into his head.” 

“ He says you were in the office when Mr. Ditson 


188 


REUBEN STONE’S DISCOVERY. 


brought in the diamonds, and that you overheard him 
say that they would be safe in the old vault as 
long as the safe of the jeweler was being repaired,” 
explained the squire. 

“I remember seeing a gentleman come in with a 
small bag,” replied Mr. Markham ; “ but I paid no 
attention to what he had to say or what was done 
with the bag; I was too excited over my own affairs.” 

“Then the diamonds belonged to Mr. Ditson and 
Mr. Camp?” I asked, for I was still in the dark on 
this point. 

“Yes,” said Squire Slocum. “They are a couple 
of jewelers that were stopping at the Bayport Grand 
Hotel with some diamonds for several parties who are 
putting up there, or were to come. They left the 
diamonds at the bank for safe keeping. Mr. Webster 
says you saw Mr. Ditson with the stones.” 

“If I did I don’t remember it,” I replied. “The 
janitor was very rude to me, and I soon went out- 
side and stood by the gutter till Mr. Markham came 
out.” 

“Mr. Webster told me you had a diamond in your 
possession.” 

“ I am willing to swear that I picked the stone 
up on the mill floor. It was dropped there either by 
Mr. Norton or Andy Carney, or else somebody that 
came in while I was asleep. I know that statement 
sounds rather queer, but it’s the plain truth.” 


A FRIEND IN NEED. 


139 


u You certainly stick to it,” commented the squire. 

“I believe the young man,” said Mr. Markham. 
“ And now, since I have caused him so much trouble, 
I think it my duty to see if I cannot help him. Can 
you let him out on bail ? ” 

“I don’t know,” said Squire Slocum slowly. 44 We 
haven’t had a regular hearing yet.” 

44 If I’m let out I’ll be on hand whenever wanted,” 
I put in quickly. 

“Suppose you see what can be done,” said Mr. 
Markham. 44 1 will bear all the expense, Squire, and 
I guess I can convince you I am perfectly reliable, 
even if Webster won’t believe it.” 

44 Let us go over to Judge Green’s office in Bay- 
port,” said Squire Slocum. 44 Maybe we can fix it 
it up. I wouldn’t care to take the responsibility 
alone.” 

This was agreed to, and the two went off at once, 
and the jailer locked me in once more. 

But I was now lighter hearted and time passed 
quickly. Three hours later Mr. Markham and the 
squire returned, and I was let out under five thou- 
sand dollars bail. 

The necessary papers had hardly been made out 
in Squire Slocum’s office when the jailer rushed in 
pale as a ghost. 

44 Norton has escaped ! ” he ejaculated. 


140 


REUBEN STONE’S DISCOVERY. 


CHAPTER XVII. 

BACK TO THE MILL. 

For the moment there was intense excitement among 
the half-dozen men who were present. The escape of 
a prisoner from Bend Center was an unheard-of occur- 
rence, and for a while nobody seemed to know what 
to do. 

44 Norton escaped ! ” ejaculated the squire, jumping 
up from his chair. 

44 Yes, sir,” replied the jailer. 

“ When?” 

“ Some time within the past two hours.” 

u How was it accomplished?” 

“Broke three of the iron bars out of the window, 
and climbed the wall into Dr. Sand’s garden.” 

44 Have you any idea where the man has gone 
to?” 

44 No, sir.” 

In a few minutes the bell over the village hall 
was rung, the news was spread that Mr. Norton had 
escaped, and a reward of fifty dollars was offered for 
his capture. 


BACK TO THE MILL. 


141 


“I take it that he is guilty,” said Mr. Markham, 
as we stood in the squire’s office. 44 It is rather rough 
on you, Stone, but that is what I think.” 

“ I think so myself, sir,” I replied. “ But, Mr. 
Markham, allow me to thank you for your kindness 
in going my bail. I didn’t expect it. Aren’t you 
afraid I will run away?” 

“ No, I am not. I can read faces, and I take yours 
to be an honest one.” 

44 Thank you, sir. I’ll promise not to run away.” 

44 What do you intend to do ? ” he went on. 44 1 
must get back to New York and get ready to go to 
Philadelphia first thing to-morrow morning.” 

“You have spent a good deal of time on me, sir. 
I expect to go back to the mill.” 

At that moment two men came up. 

44 They’ve found out that Norton started up the 
road to Hillsburg,” said one of the men. “I reckon 
he is going to try to make the midnight train if pos- 
sible.” 

44 It’s a pity you can’t telegraph, and head him off,” 
said Mr. Markham. 

44 There are no wires through the Bend,” was the 
reply. “ The place is behind in some things.” 

I was silent. Was it true that Mr. Norton intended 
to shake the dust of the district from his feet for 
good? 


142 REUBEN STORE’S DISCOVERY. 

I could not help but wish that such was a fact. 
Not but what I wanted to see the guilty parties pun- 
ished, but I desired to have nothing more to do 
with the man, and would be perfectly content if he 
would never again approach me. I considered that I 
was old enough to take care of myself, and wanted 
no guardian of any kind excepting such a nominal 
one as the law might require. 

A few moments later Mr. Markham and I walked 
down to the dock at which the Catch Me was lying. 
Mr. Williams had put the craft in first-class trim 
once more, and as I stepped on board I could not 
help but feel my breast swell with pride as I real- 
ized that I was the owner. 

“ I will take you to Bayport if you wish,” I 
said. 

“ Thank you, Stone ; I would like to get over there 
as soon as possible.” 

I hoisted the sails at once, and stood out for the op- 
posite shore. On the way we had quite a talk; and 
when Mr. Markham fairly wrung the information 
from me that business was poor at the mill, and 
that money was tight, he got out two twenty dollar 
bills, and insisted on my taking them “ on account,” 
as he put it. 

u You are too generous,” I said, as he thrust the 
bills into my pocket, 


BACK TO THE MILL. 


143 


“It is only a part of what I intended to give 
you from the start. I shall never forget what you 
have done for me.” 

We parted at the Bayport pier, and then I steered 
for the mouth of the Torrent Bend River. As I 
skimmed over the surface of the lake I rc dewed my 
situation in all its details. 

I resolved that as soon as the mystery of the 
diamond robbery was cleared up, to put my father’s 
matters in Squire Slocum’s hands for final settle- 
ment ; then if I was allowed to run the mill I 
would do so, and hire Ford as a regular man to 
help me. 

During the days that grinding was slack I could 
go fishing in the boat, or, better yet, hire out the 
craft to such parties at the Bayport hotels as wished 
to charter her. I knew there was money in doing 
this, and money was what I was after 

It was dark when I ran up to the mill landing. 
Not a light was to be seen about the place. I 
fastened the Catch Me by means of a chain with 
a lock and key — a thing that gave me much satis- 
faction, as I thought it would now be no easy mat- 
ter to run off with my property. 

I approached the mill silently, and pushed open 
the door of the grinding-room. As I did so I fancied 
I heard the faint murmur of voices. 


144 


REUBEN STONE’S DISCOVERY. 


I stopped short and listened. I had not been 
mistaken ; and I judged the sounds came from the 
room under the living apartments. 

For a second I knew not what to do ; then I 
tiptoed my way across the floor to one of the bed- 
rooms, and carefully raised up one of the boards 
that I knew was loose. 

The rays of a small lantern met my eyes ; and by 
the light I saw that two men were in the room. 
One was the man called Yates, and the other was 
Mr. Enos Norton. 

My surprise at seeing the latter was intense. With 
all the others at the Bend, I had felt sure my guar- 
dian had made his way to Hillsburg to take the 
midnight train. 

“ It was a risky thing to come back here,” I heard 
Yates say. 

“I don’t think so,” replied Mr. Norton. “No one 
would think I would dare to come back ; and I left 
the impression behind that I had gone towards Hills- 
burg.” 

“ Well, it won’t do to stay here long.” 

“ I know that. That’s the reason I say let us 
settle up at once, and clear out. This haul hasn’t 
been half what I thought it would be, and I want 
the matter ended.” 

“It’s a pity you broke jail,” went on Yates, with a 
sniff. “ That was a give-away.” 


BACK TO THE MILL. 


145 


“ I know it ; but things were getting too hot. That 
boy is smarter than he looks.” 

“Pshaw! You are losing all nerve. Hist! here 
comes some one.” 

The light went out instantly. Then a voice was 
heard saying it was all right. The light was turned 
on again, and I saw that the man called Avery had 
entered. 

“ All right ? ” asked the other two. 

“There’s a boat at the dock,” replied Avery in a 
whisper. 

“Who’s aboard?” 

“ No one.” 

“ Is it that Carney’s boat ? ” asked Mr. Norton 
eagerly. 

“ I don’t think it is. It’s a larger craft.” 

“Then it must belong to the police!” cried Yates. 
“We must get right out of here.” 

“But about dividing those stones?” asked Avery. 

“We can’t do it now. Remember, we lost one the 
other night in our hurry; it won’t do to lose more.” 

“Then come.” 

The three at once left the room. I heard them 
cross the road and strike out for the shore above, and 
then with my heart beating rapidly I stole after them. 

It was intensely dark, and it was with difficulty that 
I kept them in sight ; but they moved slowly, and 
that was in my favor. 


146 


REUBEN STONE'S DISCOVERY. 


At length we reached the shore above the mill. 
Here a small boat was lying, and the three prepared 
to go on board. 

Suddenly Mr. Norton uttered an exclamation. 

“ Pshaw ! I’ve forgotten something ! ” 

“ What’s that?” asked Yates. 

“ There is something at the mill I want to take 
along. Will you wait till I run back for it ? ” 

“ It’s risky,” said Avery. 

“ I’ll run the chance. If I get caught I’ll give the 
alarm.” ' 

And with this the man jumped back to shore, and 
made for the very place where I was in hiding. 

I tried to spring to one side ; but in doing so I 
made considerable noise. It was heard, and a moment 
later the man recognized me. 

“ Reuben ! ” he ejaculated. “ When did you escape ? ” 

Without replying I made for the mill. But Mr. 
Norton was after me, and as I reached the door he 
collared me. 

“ When did you escape ? ” he repeated. 

“I got out just a little while before you did,” I 
replied; and I did not see the necessity of adding 
that I was on bail. 

“And what are you doing here?” he demanded. 

“That is my business.” 

“You have been spying on us.” 


BACK TO THE MILL. 


147 


I was silent. 

“Is that your boat down at the pier?” 

“ Yes.” 

“You are alone?” 

“ Why do you ask that question ? ” 

“Answer me.” 

“ I don’t care to.” 

He eyed me savagely. 

“You had better!” he cried. “Do you know you 
are in my power, boy ? ” 

“No, I don’t.” 

“Well, you are.” 

“I don’t see it,” I replied stoutly. 

“You are smart, but not smart enough,* went on 
Mr. Norton ; “ and I want to know at once whether 
you are with us or against us.” 

“ I will never side with a set of thieves ! ” I burst 
out warmly, indignant at such a proposition. 

“Well, then, suit yourself,” he replied. 

He had hardly spoken before he sprang upon me. 
I was taken by surprise, and before I could realize 
it I was on my back and he was on top of me. 

“ Let me up ! ” I cried. 

“Not much. If you want to be an enemy to your 
own uncle and his friends be so ; but you have got 
to take the consequences.” 

We had a short struggle after this without more 
words. 


148 


REUBEN STONE’S DISCOVERY. 


I did my best to get away, but it was useless. 
Mr. Norton was thoroughly aroused, and his muscles 
were like iron. Drawing back his hand, he hit me 
between the eyes, and before I could recover he 
caught up a rope and bound me hand and foot. 


A MOMENT OF EXCITEMENT. 


149 


CHAPTER XVIII. 

A MOMENT OF EXCITEMENT. 

“ Now we’ll see who is master here ! ” cried Mr. 
Norton, after he had succeeded in rendering me power- 
less. 

“What do you intend to do?” I asked in alarm. 

“Never mind; you will find out quick enough, 
never fear.” 

Saying this, Mr. Norton dragged me into the mill, 
and up the stairs into the grain-bin. 

“Now stay there until you free yourself,” he said 
harshly. “And remember that I am not to be over- 
come by a boy like you.” 

“You are a villain,” was all I could say in return. 

“ Perhaps so ; but I won’t have you talking to me 
like that,” he returned. 

And raising his heavy boot, he gave me a kick in 
the side that caused me to cry out with pain. 

“Now good-by to you,” he went on. “You will 
never see me again.” 

“I trust I never shall,” I replied bitterly. 

In a moment he was gone and I was left* to my 


150 


REUBEN STONE’S DISCOVERY. 


own reflections. I heard him tramp around down- 
stairs for several minutes, and then all became silent. 

No sooner had he left me than I began to tug at 
the ropes that bound me. But Mr. Norton had done 
his work well, and at the end of five minutes I found 
myself as secure as ever. 

I was lying flat on my back, and found it impos- 
sible to rise. For a while I thought to raise my 
voice, and did so several times, but then ceased un- 
der the impression that no one was within hearing 
distance. 

A rat came out of his hole and scrambled over 
my legs. This startled me, and I raised quite a 
racket which made him disappear in a hurry. 

Ten minutes passed, and all was as silent as before. 
Would I have to lie there until morning, or longer, 
and leave the three robbers to escape? It seemed 
more than likely. 

Presently I thought I heard a sound at the door 
of the lower mill room. I listened intently and was 
sure I was not mistaken. 

“ Help ! help ! ” I cried at the top of my lungs. 

The sound stopped, and I repeated my calls. 

“ Who is that ? ” cried a voice. 

“It is I, Reuben Stone.” 

“ Where are you ? ” 

“Up in the grain-bin.” 


A MOMENT OF EXCITEMENT. 


151 


“Are you alone?” was asked; and now I recog- 
nized Ford’s tones. 

“ Yes, Dan ; come up and untie me.” 

At once there was a tramping on the stairs, and 
then Ford appeared, carrying one of the mill lan- 
terns. 

“ Why, Reuben, who put you here ? ” he exclaimed, 
as he bent down and freed me. 

“Mr. Norton.” 

“Your uncle? Why I thought he had sneaked away 
to Hillsburg.” 

“ So does everybody else,” I returned, as I jumped 
to my feet. “ But he was here less than half an 
hour ago with those other two thieves.” 

“You don’t tell ine ! Where have they gone?” 

“They have a boat up in the cove above. They 
are going to some point on the lake.” 

“Phew! Lucky I came along.” 

“Yes, Dan, lucky for me. What brought you?” 

“Well, I got to thinking that it wasn’t right to 
let the mill stand alone, and I told mother I was 
going over and take possession for you till every^ 
thing was straightened out.” 

“Thank you, Dan; it’s a good deal to do, and so 
late at night too. Do you know what I have a 
mind to do?” I added suddenly. 

“What?” 


152 REUBEN STONE’S DISCOVERY. 

“ Follow these men. I know they are the three 
robbers, and even if one of them is my uncle, I want 
them brought to justice.” 

“Have you got a boat?” 

“Yes; the Catch Me. Mr. Markham has straight- 
ened everything out, and the boat is mine.” 

“Good! Well, if you go after them, I will go 
along. It isn’t safe for you to go alone.” 

“Thanks. I would like to have you along first- 
rate.” 

“ Where is your boat ? ” 

“Down at the dock.” 

“I didn’t see her as I came up.” 

“ She is there — unless Mr. Norton took her,” I 
added, with a sudden sinking of the heart. 

“I’m positive there was no boat there when I 
came up, for I looked for the regular mill sloop.” 

By this time we had gone down-stairs. I rushed 
outside and down to the pier. Sure enough the Catch 
Me had disappeared. 

I gave a groan as I made the discovery. Ford 
shook his head. 

“Mr. Norton is a bad man and no mistake. He’s 
the kind of a relative that no one wants,” he ex- 
claimed decidedly. 

“You are right, Dan. I would rather be alone in 
the world ten times over than have him for my uncle. 


A MOMENT OF EXCITEMENT. 


153 


How my father ever took up with him in the West 
I cannot imagine.” 

“Perhaps he hid his real nature when he was with 
your father,” suggested Ford. “Smart rogues can do 
that very easily, you know.” 

“He didn’t deceive me much. I didn’t like him 
from the start.” 

“Nor I. But you know your father was a very 
easy-going man.” 

“He never wrote to me about Mr. Norton,” I re- 
turned; and then to change the subject, which was 
so disagreeable to me, I went on, “Tut the ques- 
tion is now, what is best to do?” 

“I don’t know. Suppose we take a look up and 
down the shore for the boat. He most likely went 
off with those other men and merely sent the Catch 
Me adrift.” 

“True. We will make an examination. You can 
go down the shore, and I will go up. The signal 
to come will be a whistle, or in case of danger the 
hoot of an owl.” 

This was agreed to, and we separated at once. I 
started along the shore very slowly, keeping my eyes 
open, and stopping often to scan the darkness that 
overhung Rock Island Lake. 

At length I reached the spot where the boat belong- 
ing to the thieves had been lying. It was gone, and 
not a trace of where. 


154 


REUBEN STONE’S DISCOVERY. 


I, however, for some reason, decided that the trio 
had embarked for Rock Island. Perhaps I was mis- 
taken, but I thought that the most likely place for 
such men to seek. The island was a wild and rocky 
place, and provided they could get enough to eat and 
drink, they could stay there a month without the 
authorities discovering their hiding-place. 

As I walked on, I wondered what Andy Carney 
had had to do with the whole affair, and what had 
become of the fellow and the stuff he had taken from 
the mill. I was particularly anxious about the valise, 
and the letters he had said it contained. I was sure 
they related in some manner to my affairs, and if I 
had them would not have hesitated to read them on 
the spot. 

At length I reached the place where the shore 
became marshy, and then I concluded to retrace my 
steps, satisfied that nothing could be gained by pro- 
ceeding farther. 

I had hardly decided on this point before I heard 
Ford whistle, not once, but several times. 

I turned, and picked my way back as fast as I 
could. 

Ford continued to whistle, and I answered him. 

“ Rube ! Rube ! ” he shouted. 

“ I’m coming ! ” I returned. 

“ Hurry up ! ” he shouted. “ Hurry ! hurry ! ” 


A MOMENT OF EXCITEMENT. 


155 


u I m coming as fast as I can,’ I cried, and I pressed 
forward as quickly as the rocks and the undergrowth 
would permit. 

“ Something is the matter,” went on Ford. “We 
must have help as soon as possible.” 

“ What’s up?” I asked, as I bounded into the 
clearing that surrounded the mill. 

“ The mill is on fire ! Just look at that end of 
the roof and the top of the shed ! ” 

I started, and did as directed. Sure enough it was 
as Ford said. The building was afire in two distinct 
places ! 

“Mr. Norton did that!” I burst out. 

“ I believe you. He meant to burn you up alive. 
What a scoundrel he is ! ” 

“What can we do, Dan?” I asked, with my heart 
in my throat as I thought of the destruction of the 
mill portion of my father’s estate. “ Can we put it 
out?” 

“ Put it out ! I guess not. Just look at those 
flames, getting bigger and bigger every minute ! I 
am afraid Mr. Norton did his work so well that the 
old mill is doomed ! ” 

“We must put it out!” I cried. “We can’t let 
the mill go down in this fashion. We must get 
water and a ladder or something, and put the fire 
out.” 


156 


REUBEN STONE’S DISCOVERY. 


“ I’ll do anything you say, Rube, but I don’t think 
you can. Better try to save some of the things in 
the rooms.” 

“No; I’m either going to save the mill or noth- 
ing,” I returned with a grim determination. 

And I dashed off to see what I could do towards 
subduing the flames, which were each instant grow- 
ing more fierce and destructive. 


LIVELY WORK. 


157 


CHAPTER XIX. 

LIVELY WORK. 

The mill was afire in two places, and unless some- 
thing was done very quickly the conflagration would 
be beyond all control, and the place would be con- 
sumed. 

With a cry to Ford to follow me, I dashed into 
the lower room and brought out a couple of pails 
that stood handy. 

“Here are pails,” I said. “Can you reach down 
and fill at the wheel? I’ll go and raise the ladder 
to the shed.” 

“ All right,” replied Ford. “ Wish there was some- 
body here to help us.” 

“I’ll fire the gun,” I went on. 

And bringing the weapon out I did so. 

Then I ran around to the other side of the build- 
ing, where a long ladder was lying, and raised this up 
to the shed top. By this time Ford had the water; 
and climbing up I poured it over the burning wood- 
work. 

“Good!” shouted the mill-hand. “Throw down 
the pails, and I’ll fill them again ! ” 


158 


REUBEN STONE'S DISCOVERY. 


I did so. While he was gone I stripped oil 
coat and beat some of the fire out as best I could. 
When he returned I soaked the coat before throwing 
the water on the flames, and before long I had the 
fire on the shed completely extinguished. 

But meanwhile the flames on the main roof had 
gained considerable headway. I raised the ladder, 
but found it would be too short to be of service. 

“ Can’t do anything with the ladder ! ” I cried. 
“ We’ll have to get at the fire from the inside.” 

“You’ll be smothered,” remonstrated Ford. 

“I hope not; any way, I’m going to try it.” 

Taking a pail in each hand, I entered the mill and 
dashed up the narrow stairway, and into the garret 
room. Here all was thick with smoke, and at one 
end I could see the flames. 

Rushing up, I dashed all the water on the flames. 
It took as long as I could hold my breath, and then 
I ran to the open window and yelled to Ford. 

“Fill the pails, Dan, and bring them up to the 
door!” 

He caught the pails as I threw them down, and 
dashed off. Meanwhile I cleaned out the corner 
where the fire was located, and stamped out some of 
the flames with my feet. It was hot work, and dan- 
gerous, but in my excitement I gave the matter no 
thought. 


LIVELY W011K. 


159 


Pretty soon the door opened, and Ford appeared 
with more water. This I was careful to throw where 
it would do the most good, and saw with delight 
that we had somewhat checked the progress of the 
conflagration. 

“Two or four more will do the work,” I said. “I 
will go down with you.” 

And down we went, three steps at a time, he lead- 
ing. I knew where there was a big tin wash-boiler, 
and got this. 

Under ordinary circumstances it would have been 
impossible for me to carry the boiler full of water, but 
now I lifted it with ease, under the excitement of 
the moment. I was close behind Ford ; and we did 
our best to make every gill of water count. 

“We’ve got the best of the fire!” he exclaimed as 
he brushed the perspiration from his face. “ Two 
more pails and it will be drowned out completely.” 

While he was gone I made a minute examination, 
to see that no sparks were lodged where they could 
do harm. All such I knocked out ivith my wet 
coat. When Ford returned, he also went over the 
ground ; and both of us declared the fire was out. 

“And I never thought we could do it,” he panted. 
“ Rube, you deserve credit ! ” 

“Not a bit more than you, Dan. But it was 
tough work. Let us get out into the fresh air.” 


160 


REUBEN STONE’S DISCOVERY. 


The shot from the gun had brought no one to the 
spot. We went down-stairs, and seated ourselves on 
the stump of a tree on the opposite side of the road, 
where we could see at once if there was any break- 
ing out of the fire again; and here we took a long 
rest, and got some pure air into our lungs. 

44 There is no doubt in my mind but that Norton 
intended to burn you. up,” remarked Ford as he took 
a deep breath. 

44 1 think so myself,” I replied with a shudder; 
44 but oh, what a horrible thought that is ! ” 

44 He is a thoroughly bad egg,” went on my helper. 
“Even if he ever gets out of this scrape, which I 
don’t believe, I wouldn’t have anything to do with 
him.” 

44 1 don’t intend to,” I replied. 44 1 shall never 
claim him as my uncle, you may be sure of that.” 

When we rested and got over the effects of the 
smoke, we entered the mill, and made ourselves com- 
fortable in the living-room. We talked over the 
damage that had been done, and reached the con- 
clusion that it could be repaired by ourselves. 

“And as you have some shingles on the place, it 
won’t cost you a cent of money,” said Ford. 

I told him I intended to remain at the mill over 
night, and he readily agreed to stay with me. I 
hung up my wet coat to dry, and then both of us 


LIVELY WORK. 


161 


retired, but slept, as the saying is, “with one eye 
open” until sunrise. 

“Well, what do you intend to do now?” asked 
Ford as we sat down to breakfast. 

“I’m going to hunt up the Catch Me,” I replied. 
“I am worried for fear Mr. Norton has misused 
her out of sheer revenge.” 

“You said Mr. Markham had given her to you?” 

“Yes. He settled with Mr. Williams.” 

And I told my helper the whole story. 

“ And I want to find the Catch Me, and see if 
she’s all right; for I expect to make quite a sum of 
money out of her during the summer. When we 
are not very busy, I intend to leave you in charge 
of the mill, and to go fishing, or rent out the boat 
to the hotel boarders.” 

“A good idea. But I fancy you won’t do much 
till this robbery is cleared up.” 

“I suppose not.” 

“ Remember, you are only out on bail. They may 
make out a case against you when it comes to 
trial.” 

“I don’t see how they can. I had nothing to do 
with the robbery.” 

“But they found the diamond on you, and Nor- 
ton may swear that you were with the crowd. He 
seemed mean enough for anything.” 


162 


REUBEN STONE’S DISCOVERY. 


We had soon finished breakfast; indeed, Ford’s 
last words took away all my appetite, and then we 
started for the lake. 

“I intend to follow the shore all the way to the 
Bend,” I said. “ If I do not come across the Catch 
Me before that time, I will borrow some boat and 
take a sail around the lake.” 

“ That’s a good idea. Of course you want me to 
go along.” 

“If you will, Dan. I will pay you the same as 
if you were working up at the mill.” 

“Don’t want any pay, Rube. I want to see you 
squared up and in full possession of your own.” 

I had locked up the mill securely, and hung out the 
slate for any orders that might come in. Then we 
started down the lake shore, keeping our eyes wide 
open for anything unusual that might present itself. 

“ They are a sly crowd,” remarked Ford as we 
hurried along. “It is my opinion that the three had 
this matter planned out ]before your uncle ever came 
to the Bend.” 

“ It would seem so,” I returned. “ But I don’t 
understand it. Mr. Norton came as soon as he could 
after my father’s death.” 

“Maybe he had something to do with your father’s 
death,” suggested my helper. “A man who would 
try to burn up a boy wouldn’t stop at anything.” 


LIVELY WORK. 


163 


I shuddered. The idea was so horrible I could 
not reply. 

We skirted the cove where the stranger’s boat had 
been tied up several days before. Here, as I have 
said, the bushes were heavy, and any craft could be 
well hidden. 

“I would like to know what they have done with 
my old boat,” I said, as we peered right and left. 
“ She wasn’t worth much, but she would be mighty 
handy just now.” 

“That’s true,” replied Ford. 

Then he gave a sudden start, plunged ahead, and 
disappeared around some rocks. 

“Hi! what are you doing way in there?” I cried. 

He did not reply, and I went after him. Suddenly 
he returned, and laying his hand on my shoulder, 
cautioned me to silence. 

“What is it?” I whispered. 

He shook his head to indicate he was not sure. 

Then as silently as possible we picked our way 
through the bushes that lined the inlet. We passed 
on fully fifty feet, and then Ford stopped and pointed 
ahead. 

“ I don’t see anything.” 

“ Look over to your left, Rube.” 

“ Beyond the blackberry bushes ? ” 

“Yes” 


164 


REUBEN STONE’S DISCOVERY. 


I looked, and saw a boat hidden behind some trees. 
It was a strange looking craft, and I was for the 
moment disappointed to think that it was not the 
mill boat or the Catch Me. 

“Whose boat?” I whispered. 

“ It is Andy Carney’s,” answered Ford. “ Keep 
quiet until we find out if he is anywhere around.” 


WE MAKE A PRISONER. 


165 


CHAPTER XX. 

WE MAKE A PRISONER. 

I WAS astonished by Ford’s words and came very 
near uttering a sudden cry; but my helper pressed 
his hand over my mouth, thus effectually prevent- 
ing any sound from coming forth. 

“ Carney may be around,” he went on softly ; 44 and 
if so we must try to capture him.” 

I nodded; and then we continued our way towards 
the boat. 

I had brought the gun with me, and now I ex- 
amined it to see if it was in condition for immediate 
use. I was aware of the desperate character of the 
man with whom we had to deal, and I did not intend 
to run any more chances than were necessary. 

Presently we heard a noise to the left, and Carney 
appeared. He carried a pail of spring water, and 
with this went on board his boat. 

44 We’ve got him,” whispered Ford. “Stand by to 
shoot if necessary, or else give me the gun.” 

44 I’ll take care of the gun. Let us creep up and 
surprise him.” 


166 


REUBEN STONE’S DISCOVERY. 


“ I’ll go ahead, and call on him to surrender, while 
you point the gun at his head. That will bring 
him to terms,” said Ford. 

And he jumped aboard Carney’s sloop. 

“Hullo, Carney!” he called out. 

There was a second of silence, and then Andy 
Carney’s face appeared at the entrance to the cuddy. 

“What do you want?” he demanded, with an 
ugly look on his face. 

“We want you,” replied my helper. “Come out 
of that at once ! ” 

“ I’ll come out when I please,” was the sullen 
response. 

“ No, you won’t ; you’ll come out now.” 

“Who made you boss over me?” demanded the 
fisherman. 

“Nobody; but you’ve got to come. Do you see 
that?” 

And he pointed to the gun, which I held to my 
shoulder. 

Carney looked at the weapon, and turned pale. 

“Put that down! ” he cried. 

“Not a bit of it,” I returned. “You have got to 
do as Ford says. I give you two minutes in which 
to make up your mind.” 

“ I won’t come.” 

“1 think you will.” 


WE MAKE A PRISONER. 


167 


And I moved over to where I could get a better 
range at his head. 

He ducked, and then came out slowly, and faced 
Ford. 

“ If you were alone I would soon do you up,” he 
hissed. 

“But I am not alone,” laughed my helper. “Hold 
out your hands.” 

“What for?” 

“I’m going to bind them.” 

“Do as Ford says,” I put in. “We mean busi- 
ness, Carney.” 

The fisherman hesitated for a moment, and then 
held out his hands. Ford caught up a bit of rope, 
and soon had the wrists crossed and tightly bound. 

“ Now watch him, Rube, while I shove the boat 
out.” 

“ What are you going to do with me ? ” asked 
Carney anxiously. 

“ Take you to Bend Center.” 

“What for?” 

“ You’ll see fast enough.” 

In a moment Ford had the sloop afloat; and with 
the three of us on board he ran up the mainsail, 
steered out of the inlet, and down the lake. 

“ What have you done with the things you stole ? ” 
I asked, as I sat down to watch our prisoner. 


1G8 REUBEN STONE’S DISCOVERY. 

“Didn’t steal anything,” replied Carney sullenly. 

“ So you expect to deny it ? ” I went on. 

He would not answer, and I did not question him 
farther. I wished to examine the cuddy of the sloop, 
but could get no chance to do so, for Ford was busy 
sailing the craft, and I thought it would not be safe 
to leave Carney unwatched even for a moment. 

It did not take us long to reach the wharf at the 
Point. Here a small crowd soon surrounded us ; 
for the report of the robbery had made a good many 
men suspend work and keep a lookout for the 
robbers. 

Ford marched Carney up to Squire Slocum’s office. 
I lingered behind to make an examination of the cuddy. 

It was not long before I found all the articles 
that had belonged to the mill stored in the forward 
hold. I also found Mr. Norton’s valise; but ft had 
been broken open, and was empty. 

This last discovery filled me with dismay, for I 
had counted on the contents of the valise clearing 
up part of the mystery surrounding the man who 
had treated me so harshly. Whether Carney had 
thrown the letters away or hidden them I could not 
tell. 

As soon as I had finished my investigation, I fol- 
lowed the others to the squire’s office. I found 
Squire Slocum examining Carney, and ready to hear 
what I might say. 


WE MAKE A PRISONER. 


169 


“ I will lock him up, and we will have a full 
hearing to-morrow,” said Squire Slocum after I had 
finished. “I am in a hurry this morning. I will 
send a message to Pointer, telling him about the 
meeting last night at the mill. I wish you had 
let me know as soon as possible, but I suppose you 
were worn out.” 

“Both that, and besides the fire drove it out of 
my mind,” I replied. 

“And that was the case with me,” added Ford. 

“I will also have a man take charge of Carney’s 
boat,” went on the squire. “We now have three 
different boats with detectives on board sailing the 
lake, and perhaps we’ll catch these fellows before 
night.” 

“Ford and I are going after them too,” I re- 
turned. 

“Well, every one counts,” said the squire with 
a smile. 

I could see that he was in a terrible hurry, and 
as soon as the fisherman was given in charge of 
the jailer we left. 

On my way to the wharf I ran against Tom Dar- 
row. He was glad to see me out. 

“ And glad to know that Markham proved to be 
a gentleman,” he added. “And that reminds me, Gus 
Lowell found your mill-boat over to Summer’s Point. 
He brought it over to Ray’s dock.” 


170 REUBEN STONE’S DISCOVER^. 

This was welcome news, and it would not now be 
necessary to borrow a boat in which to go after Mr. 
Norton and his two confederates. I ran down to the 
place that Tom had mentioned, and was soon at the 
wharf in my own boat. 

Ford came on board, and we set out on a voyage 
of discovery, as he termed it. Darrow would have 
liked to accompany us, but said he had work on 
hand, having an order for forty pounds of fish for 
one of the Bayport hotels. 

“And it don’t pay to let such an order slip by,” 
he added. “ Not when prices are high and biting 
is good.” 

“Where do you intend to go first?” asked Ford 
when we were well on our way. 

“ I think the fellows made for Rock Island,’ ’ I said. 

“ That’s my idea, though both of us may be mis- 
taken.” 

“The island makes a good hiding-place,” I went 
on. “But still they can’t stay there forever, and I 
take it they would rather leave the neighborhood 
entirely.” 

“They can’t do that if all the roads are guarded, 
and Squire Slocum said such was a fact. They would 
have a sweet job trying to get through the woods.” 

“It’s a wonder they committed the robbery when 
the chances to escape were so slim.” 


WE MAKE A PRISONER. 


171 


“ I guess they thought to get away before the crime 
was discovered. Mr. Webster said it was only by ac- 
cident that it was not allowed to run on till noon 
or later. The old vault, in which the safe was sit- 
uated where the diamonds were placed, is not used 
for storing the regular bank-funds, and besides, Mr. 
Merton, the cashier, rarely gets to the bank as early 
as he did on the morning following the robbery.” 

“It was all known beforehand among the three 
men,” I went on. “ But how did they get their 
knowledge?” • 

“ Mr. Camp, one of the jewelers, says he thinks 
he knows this Avery, but he is not sure. The de- 
scription is all right; but the name of the man he 
knew was Denting.” 

“A name among such fellows is easily changed.” 

“ Of course. But then — hullo, whose boat is that?” 

Ford pointed to where a large sloop had just passed 
beyond a point of land just ahead. 

“ I didn’t see much of her,” I replied. 

“ She looked to me like the Catch Me.” 

“ The Catch Me ! ” 

“ Exactly. I might have been mistaken.” 

“Who can be on board?” 

“ We’ll see when we round the point. Hold up. 
Now let her go. The wind is getting fresh and no 
mistake. There is the boat. What do you think 
of her ? ” 


172 


REUBEN STONE’S DISCOVERY. 


I gave a long and searching look. 

“ It is the Catch Me beyond a doubt,” I cried. 
“Who can it possibly be that is sailing her?” 

“There is only one man on board as far as I can 
see,” replied Ford. 

“ It is Mr. Norton ! ” I ejaculated a moment later. 


A STORM ON THE LAKE. 


173 


CHAPTER XXI. 

A STORM ON THE LAKE. 

The announcement that the person in the other 
boat was the very one for whom we and the detec- 
tives were hunting, was so surprising that for a 
moment Ford could hardly believe it was a fact. 

44 You are sure?” 

44 Exactly. Don’t you remember that curious hat 
he wore ? ” 

44 1 do, now you speak of it. I wonder where he 
is bound?” 

44 We’ll soon find out,” I replied decidedly. 

44 Do you mean to follow him?” 

44 Not only follow him, but catch him, Dan.” 

44 You really mean it, though he is your uncle?” 

44 1 certainly do.” 

When I told Ford that I intended to follow Mr, 
Norton, and capture him if possible, I meant every 
word I said. 

The fact that the man posed as my uncle must 
have nothing to do with my feelings. He was a 
criminal, and must be handed over to the authorities. 


174 


REUBEN STONE’S DISCOVERY. 


I let out the mainsail, and ran up the jib to its 
fullest. This sent us forging ahead, and we began to 
close up the distance that separated the two crafts. 

“I think we’ll overtake the Catch Me in a quar- 
ter of an hour,” I said, after I had done all I could 
to increase our speed. 

“We will if this breeze holds out, and he doesn’t 
trim the sails,” replied Ford. “ He is carrying too 
much canvas.” 

“I suppose Mr. Norton is not much of a sailor, 
or he would run right away from us. The Catch 
Me is a far better boat than the Mary.” 

“ Of course ; but his lack of knowledge is to our 
benefit.” 

“I don’t like the looks of those clouds over there,” 
I went on, pointing over to the west. “ That is a 
regular squall quarter.” 

“ If we catch anything like that, it will be look 
out all around ! ” laughed my helper. 

In five minutes we were within hard hailing-dis" 
tance of the other boat; and then Ford called out 
through his hands, using them as a speaking-trum- 
pet,— 

“ Sloop ahoy ! ” 

There was no reply, and he repeated the call. 

“ He doesn’t intend to answer,” I remarked. “ But 
see, he is trimming his sails. He intends to get away 
if possible. I wonder if he recognizes us?” 


A STORM ON THE LAKE. 


175 


“ Shouldn't wonder. He’s foolish for taking in 
sail now, when the wind is dying out,” added Ford. 

“I don’t know about that. We may have more 
wind than we want presently.” 

And I pointed to a heavy cloud that was scurry- 
ing over. 

“ By George ! I think you are right ! ” exclaimed 
the mill-hand. “ That looks nasty, and no mistake ! ” 

A moment later the wind died out utterly. We 
almost came to a standstill, and immediately dropped 
all sails. The Catch Me did the same, but not before 
she had been carried a goodly distance farther away. 

“ Here it comes ! ” I shouted, as a long, low line 
of white swept up from the south. “ Hold fast, 
Dan ! ” 

“ I’m all right, Rube ; look out for yourself.” 

He had hardly spoken before the first brush of 
the squall was upon us. It caused the water to 
foam and dash on all sides, and the Mary bobbed 
up and down as if she was a cork. 

Then came a heavy puff of wind that sent us 
driving onward, and made us ship fully half a dozen 
pails of water. I began to bail out; and seeing this, 
Ford set to helping me. 

A moment later the sky was fairly black, and it 
began to rain, first lightly, but soon in a perfect tor- 
rent. We had but scant protection, and it did not 


176 


REUBEN STONE’S DISCOVERY. 


take long for the water to get to our very skins, 
making us far from comfortable. 

u Do you see anything of the Catch Me ? ” I shouted, 
so as to be heard above the roaring of the wind. 

“ No ; the rain hides everything,” replied Ford. 
“Wonder how long this squall is going to last?” 

“ They never last very long ; but we must keep 
on bailing, or we will be swamped.” 

After this we were silent for perhaps ten minutes. 
I could not help but shiver, and I saw that my com- 
panion did the same. 

“I think it is letting up on the blow,” said Ford 
presently. 

“ It is ; but it’s raining as hard as ever.” 

Five minutes later the shower stopped short, and 
the clouds began to scatter. 

u The squall is over. They are always short, sharp, 
and nasty. Let us hoist the mainsail, and continue 
our chase.” 

Easier said than done. Under cover of the squall 
the Catch Me had slid out of sight. 

“ Then we’ll make for Rock Island. I am satisfied 
that that is the place for which Mr. Norton was bound. 
It is more than likely he has been off to get some 
provisions.” 

“ Shouldn’t wonder but what you were right, Rube. 
Shall we make for the south shore?” 


A STORM ON THE LAKE. 


177 


“That is as good as any. We can watch out for 
the Catch Me, and by getting her away leave the 
robbers without a means of quitting the place.” 

“ True ! I never thought of that. The south shore 
it is.” 

Presently the setting sun came out, and we made 
arrangements to dry our clothing. Luckily there 
were a couple of old suits in the cuddy of the sloop, 
and these were put on in the meanwhile. 

In half an hour we were in sight of the island, 
and then we took a reef in the mainsail, and lowered 
the jib. 

“We want to be as careful as possible,” I said. 
“ These men are desperate, and they may be on the 
watch for any one who comes along.” 

“You’ve got the gun.” 

“I know that; but it ‘isn’t much to depend on in 
a tight corner.” 

In a moment we were within a hundred feet of the 
rocky shore. Nothing was to be seen of a boat of 
any kind.” 

“It is evident that Mr. Norton didn’t land here,” 
I said, “unless he pulled his boat ’way up in the 
bushes ; and that I don’t believe, for the Catch Me is 
a heavy craft to handle.” 

“ Shall we go around to the east or west ? ” asked 
my companion. 


178 


REUBEN STONE’S DISCOVERY. 


“ Suppose we go to the west. It really doesn’t 
matter much.” 

So we set our course for the west coast of Rock 
Island. We had hardly gone half a dozen rods be- 
fore Ford caught me by the shoulder. 

“We made a lucky choice!” he cried. .“There 
is the spot where the man we are after landed! ” 

“How do you know?” I questioned eagerly. 

“ Because there is the Catch Me in the bushes 
beyond.” 

“ Has he left her, do you think ? ” I asked in con- 
siderable excitement. 

“I think so. I will go ahead and see. Hold your 
gun in case he intends to surprise us.” 

I did so ; and Ford went forward and landed on 
the rocks. He was gone fully five minutes. 

“No one around,” he said, upon his return. 

“Maybe Mr. Norton has gone off to warn the 
others,” I suggested. 

“ Perhaps he has. Any way I didn’t see a soul.” 

“Hadn’t we better get the Catch Me out into the 
lake ? Then we can land and hide the Mary in 
another place.” 

“ That’s a good plan,” said Ford. “ Come ahead.” 

It was no easy job to get out the larger boat. But 
finally it was accomplished, and the big craft was 
anchored fully quarter of a mile away from the shore. 


A STORM ON THE LAKE. 


179 


“Now, if they haven’t another boat, they are pris- 
oners,” I said. u That is, if we can hide the Mary 
where they can’t find her.” 

“I know a spot, a little farther up the shore,” 
said my companion. “Let us try that.” 

We hoisted the sail once more and stood up the 
shore fully an eighth of a mile. Then Ford took 
the tiller, and headed the craft for a deep and nar- 
row inlet, guarded on both sides by high rocks and 
heavy bushes. 

“Now, if they haven’t seen us, I guess they will 
never find the Mary.” 

“I think I’d have a job finding her myself,” I 
laughed. “It’s so dark I can hardly see a thing!” 

We lowered the sails and pushed the Mary as deep 
into the bushes as possible. Then we jumped ashore, 
tied fast, and hurried back to the spot where the 
Catch Me had been beached. 

“There ought to be some tracks in the mud,” I 
said. “See how soft the rain has made the soil.” 

“It would be easy enough to follow the man if it 
wasn’t for the rocks,” returned Ford. “But we will 
do what we can, and that, too, without waste of time. 
It will be a feather in our cap if we capture the 
whole crowd.” 

“ Here are footprints,” I went on. “ Po you see, 
they lead from this place where the Catch Me struck 
over those rocks to the north?” 


180 


REUBEN STONE'S DISCOVERY. 


“ That’s so. Let ns see if we can catch them again 
beyond the rocks. Come, don’t make any more noise 
than you can help.” 

“We walked on with our heads bent close to the 
ground. When we reached the spot where the rocks 
ended and the marshland began, we could for the 
moment distinguish nothing. 

“It’s lost,” said Ford soberly. 

“No; here it is,” I whispered, “and quite fresh, 
if I am not mistaken.” 

“An hour more and we’ll be lost in the dark. It 
must be every bit of five o’clock.” 

“Yes: and later. We lost a good deal of time 
down at the Bend.” 

After this we followed the footprints in silence. 

They took a roundabout course over the marshes, 
for which Rock Island was noted, and then grad- 
ually struck a direct path leading to the north. 

I was ahead, and carried the gun in such a fashion 
that it could be brought into instant use. 

“Go slower,” cautioned Ford; “they can’t be far 
away.” 

I slowed up, and listened intently. Some distance 
ahead I fancied I heard the murmur of voices. 

I nodded to Ford, and he came up close. 

“ They are just ahead,” I whispered into his ear. 
“ I wonder if there isn’t some sort of a hut beyond?” 

He shook his head. 


A STORM ON THE LAKE. 


181 


With my heart beating loudly I continued to ad- 
vance, my companion close behind me. Presently 
we came to a number of big rocks, the ones, in fact, 
from which the island derives its name. Here we 
halted and listened once more. 

“You say some one followed you?” we heard the 
voice of Avery say. 

“ Yes ; two men,” was Mr. Norton’s reply. “ I 
couldn’t make them out. They must be close to the 
island by this time.” 

“ Then we must divide the booty, and get out as 
fast as possible,” said another; and I knew it was 
the man called Yates. “Put all the stones together, 
boys, here on this board, and we’ll draw lots for them, 
after dividing them into three parts.” 

Then I crawled up the rocks and peered over. 

Beyond was a rude shelter of boards, and sitting 
beneath it were the trio of robbers, with the stolen 
diamonds spread out before them. 


182 


REUBEN STONE’S DISCOVERY. 


CHAPTER XXII. 

AN INTERESTING CONVERSATION. 

The sight of the three men with the stolen dia- 
monds spread out between them was an interesting 
one to Ford and myself. The trio had a lantern, 
and in the rays of this the precious stones sparkled 
radiantly. 

“If we could only dash in and scoop the pile,” 
whispered my companion. 

“We want to scoop the men as well,” I whispered 
in return. “It won’t do to let them escape now we 
have found out their hiding-place.” 

There was a brief silence, and then Mr. Norton 
continued, — 

“We’ve had a harder time getting this stuff than 
we anticipated, boys. If I had known what a job 
it would be I would never have agreed to the plan 
when it came up.” 

“It Wouldn’t have been so hard if you had listened 
to my way,” put in Yates. “I can’t see why you 
wanted to drag in that boy over at the mill.” 

“That’s because you are not up to all the tricks 


AN INTERESTING CONVERSATION. 


183 


of the trade,” laughed Norton. 44 If he had been any 
way pliable we would all have escaped without half 
trying, and perhaps with more booty.” 

“Oh, I understand it’s a big thing to stand in 
with some one in the neighborhood,” remarked Avery. 
44 It helped me considerable in Baltimore. But this 
plan was so roundabout.” 

44 That was because things happened as they did,” 
replied Mr. Norton. 44 If I hadn’t fallen in with 
Stone out West everything would have been different.” 

“Well, we’ve got the stones, and now the thing 
is to get out of the neighborhood as quickly as pos- 
sible,” said Avery. 44 You are known, and I suppose 
we will be soon.” 

44 Yes.” Mr. Norton paused. 44 Come, let us examine 
the diamonds, and divide them as evenly as possible.” 

44 All right. There are just fifteen of them, not 
counting the one that was lost in the mill when you 
drugged the boy,” said Yates. 44 Who is to lose that? ” 

44 1 drugged the boy for the good of the party,” 
explained Mr. Norton ; 44 it was better and handier than 
tying him. I am sure he doesn’t know a thing of 
what happened that night.” 

44 Don’t be too sure of that,” I muttered. 

In the meanwhile the diamonds were carefully 
examined, and after many comments divided into 
three little heaps. Then Mr. Norton got out some 
strips of paper, and they drew lots. 


184 


REUBEN STONE’S DISCOVERY. 


I motioned for Ford to follow me to a spot some 
distance away. 

“What shall we do?” he asked, as soon as we 
were out of hearing. 

“ They are getting ready to leave,” I said. “ One 
of us ought to let the police know. It is impossible 
for us to capture the three of them.” 

“One of us ought to stay here,” said my com- 
panion. 

“Suppose I do that?” I suggested. “You can take 
the Mary and run over to Bayport, and return as 
quickly as possible.” 

“But if they leave in the meanwhile?” 

“Then I will follow them, and leave directions on 
a slip of paper pinned to this tree, so that you can 
follow.” 

“That’s a good idea. But aren’t you afraid to 
stay alone ? ” 

“No.” 

“Don’t let them discover you. Remember, a boy 
can’t stand much show against three men.” 

“I’ll be careful, Dan. Of course you know enough 
to come back as soon as possible.” 

“Trust me for that, even if I have to come alone. 
I won’t be gone more than an hour and a half.” 

“All right. Now you had better start without 
delay.” 


AN INTERESTING CONVERSATION. 


185 


A moment later Ford was gone. For an instant 
my heart sank as I realized that I was alone. Then 
I pulled myself together, and resolved that come 
what might I would do all in my power to capture 
the three lawless men. 

I tiptoed my way back to the spot where the trio 
were sitting, discussing the best plan for leaving Rock 
Island. 

“It will be risky business to use the Catch Me,” 
observed Mr. Norton. “ Somebody might be on the 
lookout for that craft, and the moment we were 
spotted that would be the end of the whole matter.” 

“ One thing is certain,” put in Yates, “ we must 
leave before daylight if possible. To remain longer, 
when all the police are on our track, is foolish. The 
question is, are we going together, or are we going 
to separate?” 

“ I move we separate,” said Avery. “ It will lessen 
the chances of capture. We can come together in 
Philadelphia.” 

“ It’s no fool of a job getting away in this dark- 
ness,” remarked Yates. “It’s as dark as pitch, and 
I don’t know a thing about the island or the lake 
shore.” 

“You are no worse off than I,” replied Avery. 
“I’ve only been around for a few days, and those 
were spent principally about Bayport.” 


186 


REUBEN STONERS DISCOVERY. 


“Let us go down to the shore, and see how the 
land lays,” suggested Mr. Norton. 

This was agreed to, and a moment later the three 
rose and made a move for the spot where the Catch 
Me had landed. 

When they were out of siglrb I hastily struck a 
match and scrawled these words on a bit of paper : — 

“ Gone to shore where the Catch Me was beached.” 

This brief message I pinned fast to the bark of 
a tree and then followed the men. 

As I moved along my thoughts were busy, thinking 
over what I had heard. It was a surprise to me to 
learn that the robbery had been so perfectly planned, 
and that I had been dragged into it because to do 
so was a trick “of the trade,” whatever that might 
mean. 

Mr. Norton and his actions were a perfect mystery 
to me. He had taken such pains to establish himself 
as my guardian, and now he seemed willing to let the 
whole matter drop. Of course he had not expected 
to be discovered as one of the robbers of the bank, 
but for all that I — well, I simply couldn’t under- 
stand the man. 

The men moved along swiftly, and in order to keep 
them in sight, I had to approach quite close to them. 
In doing this I was injudicious, and when they sud- 
denly halted, I nearly ran over them. 


AN INTERESTING CONVERSATION. 187 

I checked myself as quickly as possible, but not 
before I had made considerable noise, which reached 
the ears of the entire party at once. 

“What was that?” exclaimed Mr. Norton. 

“ Somebody following us ! ” cried Avery. “ Hullo, 
there ! who are you ? ” he called out, as he made a 
dash back. 

I made no reply, but continued to retreat. In a 
moment the whole party were in pursuit. 

“We must catch him, whoever he is,” cried Mr. 
Norton. “ I shouldn’t wonder if it is one of the 
fellows that followed me in the boat.” 

“Why not leave him go and skip ourselves?” 
asked Yates, halting. 

“No, no,” put in Avery. “If he is alone he will 
put others on our track. He has overheard all we 
have said. Catch him ! ” 

And they made after me with renewed vigor. 

But I was nimble of foot, and was soon a fair dis- 
tance away. In front of me I saw a large cedar-tree, 
and it did not take me long to climb into this and 
secrete myself among the branches. 

As I did so, the party burst into the vacant space 
below. 

“Phew! but he can run, whoever he is,” exclaimed 
Avery, puffing. 

“ Listen ! ” cried Mr. Norton ; and they all did so. 


188 


REUBEN STONE’S DISCOVERY. 


I kept an absolute silence, and nothing but the 
croaking of frogs and the lonely hooting of an owl 
broke the stillness. 

“ It’s no use,” he went on. “ The fellow, whoever 
he is, has got away, and it’s worse than hunting for 
a pin in a haystack to try to find him.” 

The other two were silent, and by looking down 
I saw Avery scratch his forehead. 

“ It’s funny that he could have got away so quickly,” 
he said. “We were right on his heels.” 

“ Perhaps it was Reuben,” said Mr. Norton suddenly. 
“I take it that he is mighty nimble on his feet.” 

“ Yes ; but I supposed he was in jail.” 

“Might have got out on bail. I’ve found out that 
they think a sight of the young miller in Bend Cen- 
ter.” 

“A good deal more than they do of his uncle, 
eh?” chuckled Yates. 

And then he and Avery broke out into a coarse 
laugh, in which Mr. Norton was forced to join. 

“ Let us forget that,” said the latter finally. It’s 
a good joke on me, I suppose ; but we’ve got serious 
business ahead. Come, we will make for the shore 
again.” 

And he turned to do so. While they still hesi- 
tated, Avery flashed the rays of the lantern about; 
and to take advantage of the light thus afforded to 


AN INTERESTING CONVERSATION. 


189 


get a good look at the two strangers, I leaned far 
down. 

In doing this I forgot to hold my cap, and presently 
it left my head, and before I could stop it, it went 
sailing straight to Mr. Norton’s feet. 

“ What’s this ? ” he cried, starting back. 

Then he picked up the cap and examined it. 

“Reuben Stone’s cap!” he ejaculated. “I’ll wager 
a thousand dollars he’s up that tree ! ” 


190 


ItEUBEN STONE’S DISCOVERY. 


CHAPTER XXIII. 

CAPTURED. 

Mr. Norton s words made my heart leap into my 
throat. I dodged out of sight, but I felt it in my 
bones that I was about to be discovered. 

“Reuben Stone’s cap,” repeated Yates. “Are you 
sure ? ’’ 

“I certainly am.” 

“ Then the boy must be up the tree,” put in Avery. 
“Hi, there! Come down out of that!” he called. 

Of course I paid no attention to this command. 

“ Yes, Reuben, come down,” added Mr. Norton. 
“ It will do no good to try to hide.” 

I remained silent, and for a moment the trio did 
the same. 

“We’ll have to go up after him,” I heard one of 
them say in a whisper. 

“Perhaps he’s got a gun,” put in another. 

“He wouldn’t dare to fire it.” 

“I don’t know about that. He’s a boy with lots 
of backbone.” 

Meanwhile I was calculating the chances of escape. 


CAPTURED. 


191 


It was dark on all sides, and that, I felt certain, would 
aid me greatly. 

Near the tree up which I was hiding was another 
tree much larger. Without making any noise I swung 
from one to the other, and got out on a limb that 
extended fully twenty feet away from the spot where 
the three men stood. 

“I’ll go up the tree,” I heard Mr. Norton say. 

“Reuben, you might as well come down,” he 
shouted. 

I kept silent; and getting Avery to aid him with 
the lantern, Mr. Norton began the ascent. 

I allowed him to get well into the branches before 
making any movement of my own. 

“Got him?” called Yates. 

“Not yet. Reuben!” 

At that instant I allowed myself to drop to the 
ground. I landed in a soft spot without making any 
noise. In an instant I made off at the top of my 
speed. 

I would have escaped but for one thing. Just as 
I started to run, Avery flashed the lantern full upon 
me. It was a purely accidental movement, but it 
revealed me to both him and Yates. 

. “ There is the boy now ! ” he exclaimed. 

“Where?” cried Mr. Norton. 

“Down here! Stop! stop!” he yelled, and dashed 
after me. 


192 


REUBEN STONE’S DISCOVERY. 


Yates followed, and so did my guardian as soon 
as lie could descend. I had a fair start, and was 
just congratulating myself upon getting away, when 
I ran up against one of the rocky mounds scattered 
all over the island. 

I looked around to the right and to the left for 
a way to escape, but discovered none. Then I at- 
tempted to scale the rocks, but had hardly got half- 
way to the top when Avery caught me by the foot. 

“ Let go ! ” I cried. 

“Not much I won’t!” he responded. “Come 
down here.” 

I tried to kick him, and did so, though not very 
hard. Then he gave a strong pull, and I came down 
in a heap. 

“You can’t come it over me,” he cried. 

He had landed directly on top of me; but I began 
to squirm at a lively rate, and he soon saw that he 
would not be able to hold me. 

“ Lie still, or I’ll give you a crack on the head ! ” 

“I won’t be still,” I returned. “Let me up!” 

“ Quiet, I tell you. Hurry up ! ” he called to the 
others. 

“We’re coming,” they cried. 

“Have you got him?” added Mr. Norton anxiously. 

“Yes; but he’s three handsful to handle.” 

“We’ll be there in a second.” 



The new-comer was my father. Page 257. 










V ^ . I V_ j ’ •*; f y-*„. * - .* •« -S fjs ' 

























































CAPTURED. 


193 


By this time I had squirmed to one side, and 
managed by hard work to partly raise myself. 

Seeing this, Avery gave me a stinging blow on 
the side of the head. 

The crack made me see stars, and I fell back. 
But I did not lose my presence of mind, and I re- 
turned the blow with interest. 

It seemed to surprise the fellow, for he burst into 
a loud laugh. 

“Well, you are a plucky chap, and no mistake!” 
he exclaimed. “ However, all this struggling of 
yours won’t do you any good. I’ve handled too 
many men to be outdone by a boy.” 

I wrenched myself loose, and sprang to my feet. 
He was after me, and in a trice I was again on my 
back. 

In falling my head struck a rock. The bump 
stunned me for the instant, and it raised a big lump 
besides. I essayed to get away again; but my head 
was in a whirl, and finally I was forced to abandon 
the struggle. 

“How we’ve got you,” he panted. 

I made no reply, and presently Yates and Mr. 
Norton came up. 

“ Ha, Reuben, you rascal, you thought you would 
be smart, did you?” said Mr. Norton, as he grasped 
me by the shoulder. 


194 


REUBEN STONE’S DISCOVERY. 


u What do you intend to do with me?” I asked, 
as coolly as I could, though I was both excited and 
out of breath. 

“You’ve been spying on us, haven’t you?” said 
Yates. 

To this I made no reply. 

“How long have you been on the island?” ques- 
tioned my guardian. 

“I shall not tell you,” I replied firmly. 

“ I say you will ! ” he ejaculated, getting angry at 
once. 

I remained silent. 

“ Are you going to tell me ? ” 

I wiped the perspiration from my brow and ad- 
justed my clothes. 

“Do you hear me, Reuben?” he stormed. 

“Please give me my cap,” I said to Yates; and 
he handed it over. 

“ If the boy is going to act like a mule, what is 
the use of wasting time over him,” put in Avery. 
“ The question is, now we’ve got him, what are we 
going to do with him ? ” 

“I’d like to put him out of existence!” growled 
Mr. Norton. 

“We can’t do that,” said Yates. “Shall we take 
him along?” 

There was considerable talk, and then this was 
agreed to. 


CAPTURED. 


195 


44 Now, then, forward march ! ” cried Mr. Norton. 
44 And mind you don’t dare to escape or I won’t be 
responsible for whatever happens to you.” 

44 1 won’t go along,” I said stubbornly. 

44 You won’t?” 

44 Not a step. You have no right to act in this 
manner. I have as much right to come on this isl- 
and as you have without being molested.” 

44 Getting on your high horse ! ” sneered Mr. 
Norton. 

44 If so, I intend to stay there,” was my quick 
reply. 

Mr. Norton tried to force me forward; but I re- 
fused to budge, and finally sat down on a rock. 

“Now what are you going to do?” asked Avery, 
who I really believe was inclined to laugh at the 
whole scene. “Rather rough when an uncle can’t 
manage his own nephew.” 

And both he and Yates let off a loud laugh. 

“It’s no laughing matter,” growled Mr. Norton. 
44 This boy knows altogether too much. If we got 
caught, he could place us in a fine box.” 

“Well, as he won’t go along, suppose we leave 
him here,” said Yates. 

44 What do you mean?” 

“Let us tie him up to one of the trees. Before 
he can manage to get away, we’ll be out of the dis- 
trict.” 


196 


REUBEN STONE’S DISCOVERY. 


“But he may not be able to get away at all if 
we bind him too fast,” suggested Avery. “Then be 
would starve to death.” 

“ That wouldn’t harm much,” said Mr. Norton. 
“It’s a good idea,” be went on. “Any rope in the 
crowd ? ” 

There was ; and it was quickly brought forward. 

Things were getting to look serious. To be left 
behind bound to a tree was far from pleasant to con- 
template. I half wished I bad agreed to accompany 
the three men. 

“ I won’t be bound ! ” I cried. And jumping up, 
I tried to dash away. But my guardian was too 
quick for me. He caught me by the arm and held 
me with all his strength. 

“Here is a tree, boys,” he said. “I will hold him 
while you put the rope around him. Mind you get 
it tight or he’ll be out of it in a jiffy.” 

“Not when I tie the knots,” said Yates. “You 
forget I spent six years at sea and understand how 
to handle a rope perfectly.” 

The rope was a long one, and' it was passed 
around my body and the tree several times. Then 
my feet were fastened, and finally my hands. 

“Now he’s as stiff as a poker,” went on Yates. 
“I’ll warrant lie won’t get loose short of four or 
five hours at the least.” 


CAPTURED. 


197 


“It ought to be four or five days,” grumbled 
Mr. Norton. 

“ Seems to me you’re pretty hard on the boy,” re- 
marked Avery. “For an uncle, it doesn’t look well 
at all.” 

“ Mind your own business ! ” cried my guardian. 

“This is my business. We’ve done enough in 
stealing the diamonds without leaving the boy to die 
here.” 

“He’s all right,” was the reply. “Come on. We 
have lost too much time already.” 

And the three men hurried off, leaving me to my 
fate. 


198 


REUBEN STONE'S DISCOVERY. 


CHAPTER XXIV. 

IN THE WOODS. 

For several minutes I heard the footsteps of the 
trio as they made their way towards the shore; then 
all became silent, and I realized that I was alone. 

It was intensely dark, the heavy branches over- 
head completely shutting out every bit of light 
that the night might have otherwise afforded. 

I do not claim to be over brave, and the dark- 
ness and the loneliness of my position sent a shiver 
through my frame. How long must I remain in 
that dismal spot? 

I tried to move my hands and my feet, but all 
appeared to be as fast as if bound with iron. 
Yates had done his work well, and I was, beyond 
a doubt, a close prisoner. 

After a struggle that lasted for a quarter of an 
hour or more, and nearly wore tha skin from my 
wrists, I ceased, and gave myself up to bitter reflec- 
tion. 

I wondered if Ford was on his way back to the 
island, and if he had the police with him. It was 
hardly possible, yet I trusted that such was the case. 


IN THE WOODS. 


199 


Then I thought of what the three men might say 
when they found the Catch Me gone. Would they 
have any other means of leaving Rock Island? I 
fervently hoped not. 

Presently, as much to keep my courage up as any- 
thing else, I began to yell at the top of my voice. 
There was no reply ; and finally I was compelled to 
cease out of pure weariness. 

After the lantern had disappeared from my sight, . 
the darkness was at first intense, and I could not see 
the thicket that I knew was but ten feet ahead of me. 

But as my eyes grew more accustomed to the place, 

I gradually found that by straining my sight I could 
see a short distance to the front. I was so tightly 
bound, that to view the situation in any other direc- 
tion was utterly impossible. 

The tree to wdiich I was fastened was a tall and 
stately elm. It was fully a foot and a half in diameter, 
and as firm as the rocks that surrounded it. 

As I have said, a thicket was directly ahead ; 
what was behind me I did not know, saving the 
rocks that I had endeavored to scale. 

I realized that I w r as in a bad fix indeed. How 
long would I have to remain in this position ? W ould 
the morning bring a change, or would I be compelled 
to remain tied to the tree until hunger and thirst 
had done their work and life had gone out of me? 


200 


REUBEN STONE’S DISCOVERY. 


Wliat a base and cruel man Mr. Norton had proved 
himself to be ! Undoubtedly he was one of the three 
robbers; and I could not help but shudder at the 
thought that he was my uncle. 

The trio had now divided the diamonds and were 
ready to separate. If they could find a means of 
leaving the island, they would do so in short order ; 
and once on the mainland it would be no easy matter 
to follow them. There were numerous roads, and 
the Bayport and Bend Center police were not of the 
best. 

But for the present, what was to be done ? 

Ten minutes went by. To me it seemed a perfect 
age. 

Suddenly the crackling of some dead leaves broke 
upon my ear. Was some one approaching? 

I listened intently. The sound came nearer; and 
far behind it I heard another sound, as of the foot- 
steps of a man. 

Wondering what it could mean, I stretched my 
neck and peered towards the spot. 

The next instant I gave a cry of horror. 

Two shining eyes glared at me through an open- 
ing, and I heard the low growl of some wild animal. 

Words cannot express my feelings at this moment. 
My very heart seemed to stop beating. I tried to 
cry out, but found I could not make a sound. 


IN THE WOODS. 


201 


At the edge of the opening the animal paused, as 
if to take in the situation. Then it moved to a point 
somewhere behind me. 

What was it ? A fox, a wolf, or some larger animal ? 
The very thought of its presence gave me a thrill 
of horror. 

For one moment all was silent. I saw or heard 
nothing of the animal. Had it left the neighborhood? 
Oh, how I prayed that this might be so ! 

Then I heard the noise again, off to the right. 
At first it was faint, as if going from me ; but then 
it became louder, and I knew that the animal was 
approaching once more. 

How I wished that I was free and that I had my 
gun ! But I was helpless, and must take whatever 
came. 

A moment dragged by slowly. My nerves were 
strung to the highest tension. I strained my eyes, 
but could see nothing. 

Suddenly I caught sight of the eyes again. To 
me they seemed like twin stars, and my hair fairly 
stood on end as I beheld them. 

Then came a growl, low at first, and then louder. 
It was the unmistakable mutterings of a wolf ! 

I knew that Rock Island was infested by that 
species of -wild animal. Some years before my father 
and I had killed three of the beasts on the south 
shore during the winter. 


202 


REUBEN STONE’S DISCOVERY. 


I tugged at the rope that bound me with might 
and main. Soon my right wrist was so chafed that 
it began to bleed. 

I was afraid the scent of blood would attract the 
wolf’s attention, and in this I was not mistaken; 
for presently he stopped growling and took a deep 
breath. 

But my tuggings at the rope were not without 
result; for presently I managed to squeeze my left 
hand through the tight opening. It hurt to do so, 
but in the excitement of the moment this was not 
noticed. 

My left hand free, I tried with all my power to 
make my right hand follow. 

Meanwhile the wolf, scenting the blood, stopped 
growling, and broke into a short bark, not unlike 
that of a terrified dog. This struck straight to my 
heart, for I knew that he was now getting ready 
to attack me. 

My right wrist was so lacerated by the rough rope 
that I found it impossible to withdraw it. In try- 
ing to do so I merely made the blood flow more 
freely, and this soon reached the wolf’s nose and 
made him more savage than ever. 

He disappeared for a moment again, and I could 
hear nothing of him. But I was certain he would 
not remain away for any great length of time. Per- 


IN THE WOODS. 


203 


haps he had companions in the vicinity, and had 
gone to call them to the spot. 

A moment later his lonely howl arose on the night 
air calling to his mates. I listened with strained 
ears, but heard no response. 

With my left hand, I now set to work to untie 
the rope which Yates had fastened so well. In my 
nervous haste I broke off all my finger-nails before 
I had the first knot started. 

But finally the knot was undone, and then I began 
on the second. Had I been less excited I might 
have worked faster, but as it was, all my fingers ap- 
peared to be thumbs. 

The second knot was untied, and I was just con- 
gratulating myself on getting my hands free, when 
the wolf burst through the thicket directly ahead. 

I saw at a glance that he was ready to attack 
me. His eyes were glaring, and his teeth fairly glis- 
tened in the darkness. 

It was then that my voice came back to me, and 
I uttered one wild, unearthly scream for help. 

The next instant the savage beast hurled itself 
at me. 


204 


REUBEN STONE’S DISCOVERY. 


CHAPTER XXY. 

A MIRACULOUS ESCAPE. 

I now found myself face to face with one of the 
most dangerous positions into which it had ever been 
my misfortune to stumble. The wolf that had at- 
tacked me was both large and fierce, and unless by 
some means I became able to combat its onslaught, 
I felt that my life might end then and there. 

My terrible scream made the animal draw back 
for an instant, and during this brief space of time 
I managed through sheer desperation to free my 
right hand. 

While doing this, I remember that close to the 
spot where I was a prisoner, I had noticed several 
smaller rocks lying at the base of the elm. I bent 
down, and by reaching around, managed to secure 
one of these, and balanced it over my head. 

I had hardly done so before the wolf gathered 
himself together, and made another leap, this time 
directly for my throat. 

With all my strength I hurled the rock. By pure 
chance my aim was true, and the missile struck the 
brute squarely in the face. 


205 


A MIRACULOUS ESCAPE. 


He uttered a sharp cry of pain and tumbled back. 
As be did so, I stooped down and picked up another, 
but much smaller stone. 

It took him fully a minute to recover from the 
blow I bad given him, and when be approached 
again, he did so with great caution. 

But this time I did not give him the chance to 
make the leap. It was no pleasant thought to have 
him so close to my throat. I took careful aim at 
him while he was crouching, and let fly with all the 
strength at my command. 

The stone struck him directly in the right eye, 
and its force was so great that it must have ruined 
that optic. He uttered a terrible howl, and turning, 
slunk out of sight. 

I listened intently, and heard him trot off for a 
short distance, and then stop. I knew liis nature 
was not one to give up what he had once under- 
taken, and that as soon as he had recovered partly 
from the pain I had inflicted, he would make an- 
other attempt on my life. 

I bent down, searching for another stone, but 
found none within reach. There was a good one 
that I could just touch with the tips of my fingers, 
but that was all. 

My hands and lips were bleeding, but utterly un- 
mindful of this, I began work on the rope that still 


206 


REUBEN STONE’S DISCOVERY. 


bound my body and feet. I believe that I worked 
quickly, but to me, at the time, a second seemed an 
age. 

At length I had myself all liberated but my left 
foot, and was just freeing this when the wolf again 
appeared. He hardly made a sound, but being on 
the alert, I felt his presence long before he got 
ready to make his final attack. 

I could not understand why the wolf had been so 
ferocious at this time of the year. It was midsum- 
mer, and there must have been plenty of small game 
on the island upon which he could feed. Perhaps 
it was only the smell of human blood that incited 
him to charge upon me. 

Hardly realizing what I was doing, I picked up 
the rope and whirled it at him. The latter turned 
and twisted upon the ground like a snake, and as 
its end reached the wolf, he sprang back several feet. 

Seeing this, I threw the rope at him again, just 
as he was ready to spring forward. 

This time the coil twisted about one of his fore- 
legs, and by pulling upon it, I tangled him up in 
such a fashion that he tumbled on his back. 

At this the beast gave such a cry as I had never 
heard before. It was one of wonder and fear com- 
bined, and it was accompanied by a sudden drawing 
away and vicious snap at the rope. 


A MIRACULOUS ESCAPE. 


207 


He did not, however, hold the rope in his mouth long. 
In an instant he had disengaged himself from the 
snarl, and this done he broke for cover, and disap- 
peared from sight forever. 

It was an odd way to escape, and I considered my- 
self very lucky that fortune had favored me. 

But then I did not know but what the wolf in- 
tended to return, and so I lost no time in untying 
the remainder of the rope that was around me. 

At the end of five minutes’ hard work, I found 
myself free. The blood flowed from both of my 
hands, which were rapidly getting stiff. 

The first thing I did was to hunt up a stout club 
with which to defend myself from future attacks should 
any come. 

This done, I stopped at a spring and bathed my 
wounds in the cool water. One of my wrists I tied 
up in my handkerchief, and the other in some lining 
torn from the old coat I wore. 

I had hardly finished this operation when I heard 
footsteps approaching from the direction of the shore. 
At first I had an impression that the wolf was re- 
turning, but soon recognized the sounds as those pro- 
ceeding from a human being. 

Instinctively I hurried out of sight, dragging the 
rope behind me. I had hardly done so when I heard 
a yelp, a cry of alarm, and a pistol-shot in quick 


succession. 


208 


REUBEN STONE’S DISCOVERY. 


“There! I reckon you’re done for!” I heard a 
voice exclaim. “That makes one wolf less on this 
island. By thunder ! I wonder if any of the critters 
have attacked that boy?” 

I thought the voice was that of Avery, and I was 
not mistaken. I saw the flash of a lantern a moment 
later, and the man stepped into the clearing. 

“ Reuben Stone ! ” he called. 

I made no answer, and he gazed carefully about 
on all sides. 

“This looks like the spot,” muttered Avery. “Yet 
if he ain’t here I must have made a mistake, for he 
couldn’t have got away.” 

He continued to hunt around until he reached 
the base of the rocks where I had been captured. 

“No, this is the right place,” he went on. “Here 
is the very spot we had the tussle.” 

“ Reuben Stone ! ” he called out. “ If you don’t 
want to starve to death in these woods you had 
better answer.” 

He listened a moment and then repeated his cry. 

I could not help but wonder what had brought 
him back, but I was not kept long in suspense. 

“That boy must know what has become of the 
boat,” he went on to himself. “He seems to be the 
only one around.” 

He paused for a moment more and looked up into 


A MIRACULOUS ESCAPE. 


209 


the trees. During this time, I fairly held my breath 
so fearful was I of discovery. 

At length he passed on, satisfied, I think, that 
he had made some mistake. I followed, taking good 
care on this occasion that I should keep a respect- 
able distance in the rear and not make any noise. 

Avery passed around the spot, and finally came 
back to it. He seemed both perplexed and cha- 
grined at believing that he had made some mistake. 
I watched him closely, anxious to know what would 
be the man’s next move. 

At last he gave up the search; and with a final 
call to me to answer, or he would leave me to the 
fate mentioned before, he set out for the shore. 

It did not take a great while to reach the spot 
where he had left his two companions. They were 
seated on some rocks, and sprang up as he ap- 
proached. 

“Well, what did the boy say?” demanded Yates. 

“ Couldn’t find him ! ” grumbled Avery sullenly. 

“ Couldn’t find Reuben ! ” ejaculated Mr. Norton. 

“No. He has got away.” 

“ Impossible ! ” exclaimed Yates. I tied ” — 

“You are always bragging about what you can do,” 
sneered my guardian. “Now the boy is gone and 
the deuce is to pay.” 

“ Couldn’t you see anything of him ? ” went on 


210 


REUBEN STONE’S DISCOVERY. 


Yates, who was unwilling to believe what he had 
heard. 

“ No. He either got away, or else the wolves have 
made way with him.” 

This reply brought forth more questions, and 
Avery had to tell his story. 

It appeared to disconcert the trio not a little. 

“Well, if the boy is gone and the boat too, I 
don’t see what we are going to do about it,” said 
Mr. Norton. 

“The neighborhood is getting too hot for us,” 
added Avery. “I move we build a raft rather than 
stay here to be captured.” 

“ Easier said than done,” said Yates. “ Building 
a raft is all well enough in a story-book, but that 
is as far as it goes. That boy must have a boat 
somewhere. I move we separate and hunt her up.” 

This was finally agreed to, and the party of 
three broke up. Mr. Norton started around the 
west shore, and I followed him. 

Upon the water it was quite bright, and I had 
no doubt but that sooner or later one of the party 
would see the Catch Me and notify the others. My 
one hope was that Ford might return before the dis- 
covery occurred. If he did not, how was the band 
of robbers to be traced afterwards? 

Suddenly an idea struck me, and I upbraided my- 


A MIRACULOUS ESCAPE. 


211 


self for not having thought of it before. It was to 
wade out to my craft, board her, and sail out and 
stand guard around the island until the arrival of 
the police. 

I resolved to act upon the inspiration at once. 
Pulling off my shoes and stockings, I fastened them 
securely around my neck, and made for the shal- 
low offing where the Catch Me lay. 

“Hullo! there’s a boat!” I heard Mr. Norton 
suddenly cry. 

I made a rush for the craft. In an instant he 
discovered me, and a moment later struck me a 
blow on the head that laid me senseless on the 
rocks. 


212 


REUBEN STONE’S DISCOVERY. 


CHAPTER XXVI. 

THE CHASE. 

I came to my senses with a start. The cooling 
waters were dashing over my right arm. A wave 
broke over my face, and I sat up in a dazed fashion. 

I was on a rock some distance from Rock 
Island. How I had come to the spot I did not 
know, nor did I at that moment give the matter 
a thought. There was a strange ringing in my 
ears and an ache in my head. 

Slowly I arose and gazed about me. It was early 
dawn, and I judged it was four o’clock, or a little 
after. 

My first thought was of the man who had deprived 
me of my senses. I looked towards the island, and 
then over the expanse of the lake, but Mr. Norton 
was nowhere to be seen. 

The Catch Me, too, had disappeared, and I at once 
concluded that the three men had taken the craft and 
made for the mainland. 

I upbraided myself for having allowed my guardian 
to discover me and treat me as he had. Through this 


THE CHASE. 


213 


the trio had escaped, and there was no telling where 
they had gone to. 

The distance to the island was fully a hundred feet. 
During the time I had been lying upon the rocks the 
lake had been growing rougher, and it was with great 
difficulty that I made my way to the shore, and even 
then the wading covered me pretty well with water. 

Once on the island again, I sat down on a fallen 
tree to review the situation. Both the boat and the 
robbers were gone. What was to be done next ? ” 

I wondered if Ford had got back from Bayport or 
the Bend, and I was just on the point of going on a 
tour to find out, when there was a noise behind me, 
and the mill-liand appeared. 

“ So I have found you at last ! ” he exclaimed, as 
he rushed up. “ Where have you been ? and what has 
become of the men ? ” 

“The men have gone, and I don’t know where,” I 
replied. “It’s a long story. Did you bring any one 
with you?” 

“ Yes ; here is Pointer, and Captain Harley from 
Bayport.” 

“ I’ve found him ! ” he called. 

And the next instant the Bend constable and the 
Bayport captain of police appeared upon the scene. 

I told my story in all its details. It was listened 
to with close attention, and all joined in asking me 
a great number of questions. 


214 


REUBEN STONE’S DISCOVERY. 


“ We have lost much time in hunting you up,” 
said Pointer. “ Those fellows have had the chance 
of a fine start.” 

“Have you any idea which way they headed?” 
asked Captain Harley. 

“ Which way is the wind ? ” 

“North-east,” replied Ford. 

“Then that’s the way they went. Their one idea 
was to reach shore as soon as possible, and that’s the 
way to do it.” 

“ I believe that you are right, Reuben,” responded 
Pointer. “ I move we get aboard of the Mary, and 
steer in that direction.” 

“ I agree,” said Captain Harley. 

Ford led the way at once to the cove in which the 
boat lay at anchor. The sail was hoisted, and a quar- 
ter of an hour after the party had found me we were 
on the move. 

“The question now is, which way did they go?” 
said Ford, as he took the tiller. “Did they steer for 
Hammer’s Point or Loadhead?” 

“ One is as near as another,” said Pointer. 

“My idea is that they steered for some point be- 
tween the two places,” I ventured to suggest. “ They 
knew better than to sail right for any town on the lake ; 
for the news has spread, and they would be likely to 
be captured as soon as they set foot on shore.” 


THE CHASE. 


215 


“That’s so,” said Captain Harley. “Most likely 
they landed in the woods, and came into town by a 
back way.” 

“I advise that we look for the boat at a point 
equally distant from both places,” I went on. “If 
we can find the craft, we may get on the trail at 
once.” 

This was deemed the best thing to do, and Ford 
changed the course accordingly. 

“Perhaps they didn’t go to any town at all, but 
struck the road for Chester,” said Pointer. “ Of 
course they wish to get away as far as possible.” 

It took us all of an hour and a half to come within 
easy sight of the north-east shore of Rock Island Lake. 
We had hardly done so before Ford uttered a cry. 

“ That is where they landed ! See, there is the 
Catch Me now ! ” 

Everybody looked, and we saw that he was right; 
for there, in an inlet, was the sloop tied to a clump 
of bushes. In two minutes we had reached the spot, 
and jumped ashore. 

“ Here are the marks of their feet,” said Pointer ; 
“but see, they seem to spread out, as if the three of 
them separated.” 

“That was their intention,” I answered. 

“ Most likely. It is rarely that criminals keep 
together after having committed a crime,” put in Cap- 


216 


REUBEN STONE’S DISCOVERY. 


tain Harley. “To hunt them down, we, too, will 
have to divide into three parties.” 

“Suppose I go to Hammer’s Point?” said the 
constable. 

“All right,” replied the captain. “I will go to 
Loadhead, while you, Stone and Ford, can keep a 
watch along the roads just beyond these woods.” 

“I am willing,” I said. 

“ And so am I,” put in Ford. 

“If either of you discover anything, report it to 
Pointer or me at once.” 

This we agreed to ; and a moment later Ford and 
I picked our way through the rank undergrowth to 
the main road some two or three hundred feet beyond. 

“I’ll bet a new hat that one of the chaps came 
this way,” said my helper to me when we were some 
distance on our way. 

“ What makes you think so ? ” 

“Because the bushes are pushed aside in a number 
of places.” 

“ That might have been done by a stray cow, Dan.” 

“ Cows don’t stray away as far as this,” he laughed. 

“Perhaps not. Well, let us hope we are on the 
right track.” 

It did not take us long to reach the main road. 
We looked up and down. Not a soul was in sight. 

“ I did not expect to see any one,” I said. “ They 
have several hours’ start of us.” 


THE CHASE. 


217 


“ Which way shall we go ? ” 

“ I hardly know. If I am not mistaken, there is 
a farmhouse just beyond the bend. Let us ask for 
information there.” 

“By all means.” 

It did not take us long to reach the place mentioned. 
We found an old man hard at work in a field beside 
the shed, which also stood near the road. 

“Good-morning,” said I. “We would like a little 
information.” 

“Morning, young man. Well, what’s it ye want 
to know?” 

“ Did you see or hear any one passing down the 
road some time after three o’clock this morning ? ” 

“Reckon I did, about four o’clock.” 

“Did you see or hear the party?” 

“ Both, young man,” and Farmer Holden grinned. 

“ What time, please ? ” 

“Close onto five o’clock. It was a tall, slim man. 
He stopped at the shed just while I was milking the 
cows.” 

“ A tall, slim man ! ” I cried. “ And did he wear a 
funny shaped hat ? ” 

“ Well, I reckon the hat was the first thing I 
noticed,” was the reply. “It was the oddest thing 
I had seen in these parts for quite a spell.” 

“It must have been Mr. Norton!” 


218 


REUBEN STONE’S DISCOVERY. 


CHAPTER XXVII. 

AT THE DEPOT. 

“ And who’s Mr. Norton ? ” asked the farmer curi- 
ously. 

“ One of the Bayport diamond robbers.” 

“ Gee-gopher ! you don’t say ! ” 

“Yes; what did he want?” 

“ Wanted to know the right road to Chester.” 

“ And did he set off in that direction ? ” 

“He did. I reckon he wanted to make the morn- 
ing train for Philadelphia.’ 5 

“ And when does that leave ? ’’ 

“About ten o’clock.” 

“Thank you. Come on, Ford. We have no time 
to lose.” 

And we hurried off, leaving Farmer Holden stand- 
ing by the fence, his mouth wide open with astonish- 
ment. 

Chester was a large city, some five miles distant. 
It was now half-past eight, so we had no time to 
lose. 

We walked rapidly. When about half the distance 


AT THE DEPOT. 


219 


was covered a wagon came along, and we got a ride 
for the balance of the way. 

We jumped to the pavement as soon as we 
reached the main street. Ford was in for going to 
the depot, and so off we started. 

A moment later, as we turned a corner, I was 
nearly dumfounded to come face to face with Mr. 
Norton, accompanied by Yates ! 

For one brief moment I was so taken aback that 
I could neither move nor speak, and Ford seemed 
to be in the same condition. 

“Mr. Norton!” I finally gasped. 

“ Reuben ! ” he replied. 

“What does this mean?” demanded Yates. 

He tried to act coolly, but it was not much of 
a success. 

“It means that we have come to Chester to have 
you arrested,” put in Ford. 

“Arrested ! ” 

“Exactly; you must consider yourselves prisoners.” 

And he called out at the top of his voice, — 

“Police! police!” 

“This will never do!” cried Mr. Norton. “I am 
not to be captured in this fashion.” 

And with a sudden bound he sprang around the 
corner and darted away. 

Seeing this, Yates tried to follow suit; but Ford’s 
grip was a good one, and he held fast. 


220 REUBEN STONE’S DISCOVERY. 

“Hang on to him, Dan!” I exclaimed. “ Don’t 
let him go. I am going after -Mr. Norton!” 

And not waiting to say more, I, too, dashed away. 

Rounding the corner I saw my guardian fully a 
block up the street, and running as fast as his long 
legs would permit. I gave chase, and soon began 
to close the distance between us. 

The street was a narrow one, and but few people 
were upon it. Had there been a crowd, I would 
have had no trouble in getting some one to hold him. 

Mr. Norton was a good runner, and he made the 
best possible use of his time. He darted here and 
there over a box and around a wagon, and it was no 
mean job to keep him in sight. 

The streets of Chester were comparatively strange 
to me; but I believe they were also to him, so on 
that score we were equal. 

In a few moments he had crossed a river that ran 
through the town. There was a drawbridge over it; 
and no sooner had he passed than the keeper began 
to open the draw for the purpose of allowing a 
vessel to go through. 

44 Let me over!” I cried. 44 1 am after a thief!” 

“No, you don’t, young fellow!” was the grim 
reply. “That is an old dodge.” 

And the bridge-keeper continued to allow the 
bridge to swing around. 


AT THE DEPOT. 


221 


For an instant I paused in perplexity. What was 
to be done? If I waited until the bridge was again 
in position, Mr. Norton would surely escape me. 

“ I’ll venture it,” I muttered. 

And stepping back, I rushed forward and cleared 
the distance from the partly open draw to the op- 
posite shore at a bound. 

“ Hi ! hi ! none of that ! ” cried the keeper in 
alarm; but I paid no heed. 

Mr. Norton looked back to see what I would do. 
He was no doubt quite dismayed to see me take 
the jump. 

I raised the cry of “ Stop, thief!” but it did no 
good, and made Mr. Norton run faster than ever. 

We went along this way about three blocks, and 
then he darted down a dark alley. I paused but 
an instant, and then followed. 

At the end was a high fence, and I entered just 
in time to see him disappear over the top. I fol- 
lowed, and found myself in the rear of number of 
greenhouses. 

I looked around, but Mr. Norton was not to be 
seen. There was a path between the glass houses, 
and along this I picked my way as rapidly as pos- 
sible, satisfied that my guardian had passed on to 
the front. 

Suddenly I was confronted by a tall and fierce- 
looking man. 


222 REUBEN STONE’S DISCOVERY. 

“ Hey, what are you doin’ here ? ” he demanded 
as he blocked my way. 

“ I am after a man that just jumped the back 
fence,” I replied. 

And I tried to hurry on. 

“ Hold on ! not so fast ! ” he cried, catching me by 
the shoulder. “How do I know but what you ain’t 
one of them pesky flower thieves that’s been a-both- 
erin’ me so long?” 

“ I am not a thief, sir ! ” I exclaimed. “ But I 
am after one, and every second counts. Didn’t you 
see the man run through here just a moment ago ? ” 

“ Tears to me maybe I did,” replied the florist 
slowly. “Well, you can go; but don’t let me catch 
you again, that’s all ! ” 

And he shook his head decidedly. 

Without waiting to reply I left, and made my way 
to the street. I had lost several minutes arguing 
with the man, and now Mr. Norton was out of 
sight. 

On the curbstone I paused, undecided which way 
to proceed next. 

“ Looking for the man that run out of here ? ” 
asked a boy who sat on a stoop near by whittling 
a boat with a jackknife. 

“ I am,” I replied quickly. “ Which way did he 
go?” 

♦ 


AT THE DEPOT. 


223 


“That way.” And the boy jerked his thumb in 
the direction. 

Suddenly an idea popped into my head. 

“Is the depot in that direction?” I questioned. 

“Yes, sir.” 

I was off as soon as the words were uttered. As 
I ran I heard a train coming along at a lively rate ; 
and this proved a guide to the spot. 

I ran into the depot, and took a hasty look 
around. Mr. Norton was not there, and a glance 
into the ladies' room convinced me that he was 
not in the building. 


224 


REUBEN STONE’S DISCOVERY. 


CHAPTER XXVIII. 

THE PURSUIT BECOMES PERILOUS. 

I approached the ticket-office, and asked when 
the train would leave for Philadelphia. 

“In about five minutes,” was the answer. 

“And is there any other train up or down before 
that?” 

“ Only an express that does not stop.” 

“Thank you.” 

I walked out upon the platform, but managed to 
keep out of sight as much as possible, fearful that 
if Mr. Norton saw me he would leave the vicinity 
at once. 

I wished that I could run across a policeman to 
whom I could state the case. But there seemed 
to be none in the neighborhood; and an inquiry 
brought forth the fact that the official on that post 
had just gone off with a drunken man in charge. 

Presently 1 heard the rumbling of an approaching 
locomotive, and the next moment a train dashed 
up and came to a halt. 

As it did so I kept my eyes wide open, and saw 


THE PURSUIT BECOMES PERILOUS. 


225 


Mr. Norton dash from behind a neighboring build- 
ing, and make for the nearest car. I gave chase at 
once, and caught him by the arm just as he was 
about to mount the platform. 

“ Let me go ! ” he cried. 

“No, sir; you sha’n’t escape me in this fashion,’’ 
I returned. 

For a moment he glared at me ; then drawing 
back his right arm he gave me a heavy blow directly 
on the chin. 

The crack made my teeth fairly rattle, and I 
staggered back and rolled upon the platform. 

“ That will teach you a lesson, Reuben ! ” he ex- 
claimed. “ Good-by ! I never expect to see you 
again.” 

The train started off, and in a moment the first 
two cars had passed me. I was dazed, and hardly 
knew what to do. 

Fortunately the train was a long one, and by the 
time the last car was going by I had managed to 
scramble to my feet. I made a dash for the rear 
platform, and grabbed the iron rail with both hands. 

The speed of the train was greater than I had 
anticipated. The rush of wind took my breath 
from me, and try as hard as I could I found it 
impossible for me to raise myself from my highly 
perilous position. The speed of the cars increased 


226 


REUBEN STONE’S DISCOVERY. 


every second, and it became more and more difficult 
for me to retain my hold. 

I shivered as I thought of what the consequence 
would be if I allowed myself to drop. No doubt 
I would be dashed to the track, and seriously 
injured, if not killed. 

My head soon began to whirl, and I felt that I 
could not hang on for any great length of time. 

While this thought rushed through my brain, the 
door of the car opened and the conductor came out. 
He saw at once what was up, and bending down, 
he grasped me under the shoulder, and lifted me up 
the steps and onto the platform. 

“What do you mean by trying to get on the train 
while we are running?” he demanded. 

For a moment I could not answer, and in that 
space of time he shoved me into the end of the car 
and followed. 

“ There ought to be a law to arrest fellows like 
you,” he went on. “If you had been killed I would 
have been blamed for it ! ” 

“It — it was necessary that I get aboard,” I gasped. 

“ How necessary ? There is another train in half 
an hour.” 

“There is a man aboard this train I wanted to 
catch.” I went on. “I don’t want him to get 
away.” 


THE PURSUIT BECOMES PERILOUS. 


227 


“Better let him go than lose your life,” returned 
the conductor grimly. 

“I didn’t think of that, sir. The man is a thief, 
and is trying to get away from the police.” 

“Indeed! Well, that alters the case a little, to 
be sure. Who is he ? ” 

“ Mr. Norton.” 

“ What is he wanted for ? ” 

“He is one of the men who stole the diamonds 
from the Bayport bank.” 

“Phew! you don’t say. You are sure?” 

“ Oh, yes. I was on hand when he got away.” 

“You know the man?” 

“ Yes, sir ; quite well.” 

“And you say he is on this train?” 

“He got aboard the forward car just as we left 
Chester.” 

“We will have to have him arrested.” 

“I wish you would do so at the very next station, 
sir. I don’t want to go to Philadelphia.” 

“We will stop at Flanders, two miles farther on. 
Come and identify the fellow.” 

To this I agreed at once, and we started through 
the train. As we passed each seat I gave the dif- 
ferent passengers a glance so as not to miss Mr. Nor- 
ton on the way. 

As I did so, one fellow in the second car impressed 


228 REUBEN STONE’S DISCOVERY. 

me strangely. He was a man about the build of 
my guardian, but he wore a smoking-cap and a heavy 
beard. I looked at him twice as we passed, and I 
noticed him start as I did so. 

At last we reached the forward car, and here I felt 
sure that I would catch sight of Mr. Norton, but 
I was mistaken. He was nowhere to be seen. 

I was thoroughly puzzled, and the conductor saw 
the look of dismay upon my face. 

“Well, where is the man?” he asked. 

“I don’t see him,” I replied faintly. 

“Maybe he has left the train.” 

“Let me take another look.” 

“Go ahead. We’ll have to pass Flanders, though.” 

“And how far is the next station?” 

“Landown, three miles.” 

I started from the front platform and walked slowly 
on to the very last. But I was again unsuccessful, 
and so notified the conductor. 

“ If he was on, he must have jumped off when 
you caught hold,” said that official. 

I could not understand it. I was morally certain 
that Mr. Norton was on the train. Had he in any 
way disguised himself? 

Suddenly I thought of the man who had impressed 
me so strangely. I jumped to my feet. 

“ I think I know where he is ! ” I exclaimed. 


“ Please come with me.” 


THE PURSUIT BECOMES PERILOUS. 229 

“ What do you mean ? ” 

“ I think he is in disguise.” 

“ Oh, I see,” returned the conductor of the train. 

I led the way to the second car. The man with 
the heavy beard sat looking out of the window. I 
tapped him on the shoulder. 



230 


REUBEN STONE'S DISCOVERY. 


CHAPTER XXIX. 

MR. NORTON’S ACCUSATION. 

“ Mr. Norton ! ” I exclaimed as the man turned 
around. 

He started as if shot, then straightened up, and 
looked at me coldly. 

“My name is not Norton,” he replied in a low- 
pitched tone. “My name is Edwards.” 

“Scarcely,” I returned. “You are Mr. Enos Nor- 
ton.” 

“ That is a cool assertion, young man.” 

“ Rather cool, but nevertheless true,” I replied 
boldly; for his voice reassured me. 

“ Anybody would agree with me, I think, that a 
man ought to know his own name best,” he re- 
plied pompously. 

“That is true, and you know your name is Nor- 
ton.” 

“Edwards, sir; Stephen Edwards from Newark.” 

“Mighty queer the boy is so positive you are 
somebody else,” put in the conductor. 

“ Evidently the boy is a fool,” puffed the man, 
as he drew himself up. 


mr. Norton’s accusation. 


231 


“Yet I am not such a fool as to be deceived by 
you,” I returned warmly. 

“Easy there, boy, or I will hand you over to — ” 

“Rather say that I will do the handing over,” 
I interrupted. 

And to finish the farce, I reached out and pulled 
on the heavy beard. It came off without much 
trouble, and Mr. Norton was revealed to the gaze 
of the half-dozen passengers who had listened to 
our conversation. 

“What do you mean by doing that?” he cried, 
catching me by the arm. 

There was quite a titter of laughter among the 
people around. 

“ It means that I have exposed you,” I replied. 
“This is Mr. Enos Norton,” I went on in a loud 
voice. “He is wanted by the police at Bayport for 
the robbery of some diamonds.” 

This announcement created quite a stir. 

“ It’s a lie ! ” roared Mr. Norton. “ I am a jew- 
eler from Newark.” 

“What are you wearing a false beard for?” asked 
the conductor. 

“ I — I suffer from face-ache, and use it to pre- 
vent catching cold,” was the lame excuse, which 
brought forth a laugh. 

“I take it the boy is right,” said the conductor. 


232 REUBEN STONE’S DISCOVERY*. 

“ We will hand you over to the police at Landown,” 
and he pulled the cord to stop at the station which 
we were just approaching. 

“ This is an outrage ! ” 

“I’ll run the risk. It’s against the law to be dis- 
guised.” 

Mr. Norton continued to bluster, but no one paid 
any attention to him. 

As soon as we had stopped at the railroad sta- 
tion the station-master was informed of what had 
happened. He brought forth a stout rope, and with 
this my guardian’s wrists were bound, despite his 
many protestations. 

Then the train rolled on, leaving me on the plat- 
form. Mr. Norton shook his fist in my face. 

“ You shall suffer for this, Reuben ! ” he cried. “ You 
will find it would have been better to have allowed 
me to escape.” 

A message was sent to the town constable and 
he soon appeared. He was a pleasant man by the 
name of Walters, and he said he would drive us 
back to Chester at once. He made a search of Mr. 
Norton’s clothing, and brought forth a carefully 
wrapped bit of paper, containing his share of the 
diamonds as they had been divided. 

Mr. Norton gave a deep sigh as the constable put 
the precious stones away where they would be safe,* 


MB. NOBTON’S ACCUSATION. 


238 


and he had very little to say as he walked away from 
the depot and got into a wagon that was to take us 
to Chester. 

But on the way he grew more communicative, and 
entered freely into conversation with the constable. 

“Yes,” he said finally. “I might as well own up. 
I am guilty, and so are three others.” 

“And who are the others?” asked Mr. Walters, 
who knew but little about the case. 

“Yates who was caught in Chester; a man named 
— well, I won’t give you his right name; and this 
boy here.” 

“ This boy ! ” cried the constable. 

“I had nothing to do with it,” I put in warmly. 

“But he did,” went on Mr. Norton. “Now that 
he has seen to it that I am caught, I might as well 
tell the whole story. He had as much to do with 
it as any one.” 

“ He doesn’t look like a bad boy,” ventured Mr. 
Walters. 

“Nevertheless, he is, and a deep one too. Why, 
he even stole one of the diamonds from the others 
before we had a chance to divide them evenly.” 

It made me feel pretty bad to have Mr. Norton 
hurl his insinuations at me in this fashion. Should 
he continue to do so, would I be able to make the 
judge and the people at large think that I was en- 
tirely innocent? 


234 


REUBEN STONE’S DISCOVERY. 


“There is not one word of truth in what he says,” 
I cried. “Mr. Walters, he is a thoroughly bad man; 
and before his trial is over you will find it so.” 

“I am not speaking in defense of myself,” said 
Norton maliciously. “ I know I have done wrong ; 
but it was only because this boy and his two friends 
dragged me into it.” 

I was nearly dumfounded by this audacious asser- 
tion, but before I could utter a word Mr. Walters 
broke in, — 

“Funny if the boy is guilty he didn’t skip out 
himself without trying to arrest you.” 

“Oh, he’s a deep one,” was Mr. Norton’s retort. 
“He knew that to do so would make him appear 
innocent. He has a long head on his shoulders.” 

“Well, that ain’t here or there. I’ll take you both 
along.” 

After this there was a long spell of silence. I was 
busy thinking over what my guardian had said, and 
wondering what would be the outcome of his capture. 

On reaching Chester, we drove at once to the 
police station. As we alighted at the door, Ford 
came forth. 

“Hullo!” he cried. “Well, this is lucky! I was 
just going back to Loadhead to see if they had 
captured Avery. So you’ve got him ? ” 

“Yes. Where is Yates?” 


mr. Norton’s accusation. 


235 


“ The chief is getting ready to take him to Bay- 
port.” 

“Then he can take this man, and also the boy,” 
said Mr. Walters. 

“ Certainly the man, but why the boy?” asked Ford. 

“ The man accuses him of being an accomplice.” 

“ Accuses Reuben ! ” burst out Ford. “ There is 
not a word of truth in it! Why, that man tried to 
burn the boy up ! ” 

Walters shrugged his shoulders. 

“I must listen to what he says. Come, here is 
Chief Larkins now.” 

In a moment more we were all in the station- 
house; and I told how Mr. Norton had been cap- 
tured; and Mr. Walters gave his knowledge of the 
event. Then Yates was brought in, and the dia- 
monds that had been found upon the two were put 
in a safe place until they could be returned to Bayport. 

“Is this boy an accomplice of yours?” asked the 
chief of Yates. 

“I have nothing to say,” growled the man. 

And I found out later that such was the only 
reply he had made since he had been captured. 

“ Of course the boy’s in the case,” said Mr. Nor- 
ton. “He’s my nephew.” 

“Are you?” asked Chief Larkins. 

“ I am; but the relationship doesn’t count for much.” 


236 


REUBEN STONE’S DISCOVERY. 


“I am his guardian, though he doesn’t seem to 
appreciate that fact.” 

“ You are not a guardian for any boy to be proud 
of,” put in Mr. Walters. 

“He isn’t my guardian any longer. I have known 
him only a week, and I have found him to be a 
thoroughly bad man. I want nothing to do with 
him.” 

There was considerable talk after this; and it was 
finally decided to return to Bayport without delay, 
stopping at Loadhead on the way in order to find 
out if Avery had been captured. 


NORTON BIXBY. 


237 


CHAPTER XXX. 

NORTON BIXBY. 

Chief Larkins procured a large wagon, and into 
this the entire party were stowed away, and off we 
drove. 

“Did you have much trouble with Yates?” I asked 
of Ford, as we rolled along. 

“ A little ; but I showed him that I was a pretty 
strong fellow, and then he gave in at once.” 

It did not take us long to reach Loadhead. Here 
we found both Captain Harley and Captain Pointer. 
Nothing had been seen of Avery, but they felt con- 
fident that he would be captured in some town on 
the other side of the mountains. 

“How shall we get back to Bayport?” asked the 
constable. 

“ Why not use the Catch Me ? ” I replied. “ I 
suppose she is lying right where we left her.” 

This was agreed to, and we made for the shore 
of Rock Island Lake without delay. 

To our astonishment the Catch Me was gone! 

What did it mean? I gazed about in perplexity. 
Suddenly Constable Pointer gaye a shout. 


238 


REUBEN STONE’S DISCOVERY. 


“That explains it! Avery came back and took 
the boat! I’ll bet he landed at some other point 
where he thought he would be free from pursuit ! ” 

“I think you are right,” replied Captain Harley. 
“We must take the Mary and look for him.” 

This was agreed to ; and they left the rest of us 
to return to Bayport. I trusted they would succeed 
in their mission, not only for the sake of capturing 
the robber, but also that my beautiful sloop might 
be returned to me. 

It took us quite a while to secure another craft 
in the vicinity. However, we at length hailed a fish- 
ing-sloop, and the owner agreed to take us down 
the lake provided we would put up with such ac- 
commodations as his boat afforded. 

“Good enough,” said Chief Larkins. “The main 
thing is to get there.” 

“I was never treated so meanly in all my life,” 
growled Mr. Norton. 

“You’ll see worse, I reckon,” was the reply. “A 
man that steals shouldn’t- look for any comfort in 
this life.” 

“ I would never have done it if the boy hadn’t 
put me up to it.” 

“More shame to you if instead of being led you 
didn’t lead, that’s all I’ve got to say.” 

And the police official turned away in disgust. 


NORTON BLXBY. 


239 


“You don’t believe me guilty?” I asked earnestl}'. 

“You don’t look it,” he replied. “If you are in- 
nocent I trust you will have an easy time proving it.” 

“ I don’t know about that. A diamond was 
found upon my person; but I am willing to swear 
I found the stone and did not steal it.” 

“I don’t see why the man accuses you if you are 
not guilty.” 

“ He is angry because I captured him.” 

“Ah, I see. Well, capturing him ought to be a 
deed much in your favor.” 

We were soon underway. It was a clear, bright 
day and the breeze was strong. Of course we had 
to tack, and this made the trip a slow one ; but we 
spent a good half-hour in dining upon some fish 
which Ford and I broiled in the cuddy, and of 
which all hands partook. 

It was well on in the afternoon when we struck 
the dock at Bayport. While we were landing quite 
a crowd gathered, and the news was soon circulated 
that two of the robbers had been captured. 

A perfect mob of people followed us up to the 
court-house, and a goodly number entered the room 
where Judge Green sat deeply interested over some 
legal documents. 

“ What is this I hear ? ” he exclaimed as the party 
entered. “ Two of the robbers captured ! Good ! it 


240 


REUBEN STONE’S DISCOVERY. 


is glorious news ! So this is the man called Yates, and 
this is Norton. Well, gentlemen, what have you to 
say for yourselves?” 

“ Nothing,” replied Yates. 

“That’s better than telling a falsehood,” said the 
judge. “So your breaking jail didn’t do you any 
good,” he added, turning to Mr. Norton. 

“ It is all a mistake,” whined my guardian. 

“So it would seem, sir.” 

And the fat judge laughed at what he thought 
was a good joke. 

In a little while the court was called to order, 
and the prisoners were granted a hearing. Ford and 
I were the principal witnessess, and we were listened 
to with close attention. 

“Well, Stone, I think you had some remarkable 
adventures on Rock Island,” said Judge Green, after 
I had finished. “ You came very near losing your 
life, if what you say is true.” 

“I have told everything exactly as it occurred.” 

“ Then these men have an account to settle out- 
side of the robbery. It is no light offense to treat 
anybody as you have been treated.” 

“Besides that, they stole my boat,” I added. 

“Yes; that is true.” 

“I trust you don’t think I am guilty, sir.” 

“About that it is not my place to say. Squire 


NORTON BIXBY. 


241 


Slocum has let you out on bail. Remember you are 
innocent until proven guilty, as is the case with 
every one brought before the bar of justice.” 

“ And when do you suppose the case will come to 
trial ? ” 

“That will depend upon whether the other robber 
is captured or not. It will probably be tried at this 
term of court.” 

While the judge and I were conversing, a gentle- 
man entered the room and pushed his way to my 
side. It was Mr. Markham, and he shook me warmly 
by the hand. 

“ I have heard what you have done, Stone,” he 
said. “Allow me to congratulate you.” 

Then his eyes ran over those gathered around and 
rested upon Mr. Norton. 

“Hullo, Norton Bixby, where did you come from?” 
he demanded. “I thought you were in the New 
York State Penitentiary.” 

I listened in amazement. 

What did Mr. Markham mean by addressing Mr. 
Norton as Norton Bixby? To me it was an in- 
tensely interesting question, and I sprang forward 
before the latter could reply to the question that 
had been propounded. 

“Is this man not Mr. Enos Norton?” I asked 
breathlessly. 


242 


REUBEN STONE’S DISCOVERY. 


“ Enos Norton,” repeated Mr. Markham. “ Why, 
no. His name is Bixby, Norton Bixby, and I had 
him arrested three years ago in New York for steal- 
ing some unregistered bonds from nay office.” 

I fell back in astonishment. 


A LUCKY FIND. 


243 


CHAPTER XXXI. 

A LUCKY FIND. 

“ If his name is Bixby he cannot be my uncle,” I 
gasped. 

“ What is your uncle’s name ? ” 

“Enos Norton.” 

“There is a similarity in names, but I guess he is 
not the man.” 

I breathed a sigh of relief. The news was worth 
more than a thousand dollars to me. 

u Then he is some first-class fraud,” I went on ; 
“ for he came to Bend Center about a week ago, 
and pretended to be my uncle, and said that my father 
had appointed him as my guardian.” 

“ That is very odd,” observed Judge Green gravely. 
“ This matter must be looked into. You are positive 
this man is Norton Bixby?” he continued, to Mr. 
Markham. 

“I am. His face is one not easily forgotten. But 
I thought his term was not up for some time yet.” 

“ Perhaps he was let out for good behavior,” sug- 
gested Captain Harley. “ They often shorten their 
time for that reason, you know.” 


244 


REUBEN STONE’S DISCOVERY. 


“ So I understand. How about this, Bixby ? ” 

And he turned to my pretended guardian. 

Mr. Norton, as I shall continue to call him for the 
present, pressed his mouth together tightly. 

“ I don’t know you,” he snapped. 

“ What ! ” 

“I say I don’t know you.” 

“Do you mean to deny that you are Norton Bixby?” 

“ I certainly do.” 

“ I can prove it to be true, sir,” returned Mr. Mark- 
ham with energy. 

“ How ? ” 

Mr. Norton asked the question coolly, and I saw 
that the city gentleman was nonplused. 

“We will see later,” he returned, and then spoke 
to the judge in a low tone. 

“I am Enos Norton, and this boy’s uncle,” went 
on my pretended guardian. “This man and the boy, 
who is a bad egg, have hatched up this scheme 
against me.” 

“We will find out the truth of the matter at the 
trial, or before,” said Judge Green. “In the mean- 
while, Oldman, remove the prisoners, and see to it 
that neither of them gets away. You, Stone, I will 
let go on the bail furnished to Squire Slocum. I 
suppose you can be found at your mill whenever 
wanted ? ” 


A LUCKY FIND. 


245 


“Yes, sir; either there or somewhere in the vicin- 
ity. Dan Ford will be able to tell where I am at any 
time.” 

“That will do then. Mr. Markham, I will consult 
with you later. Will you dine with me this even- 
ing ? ” 

“ With pleasure, Judge,” was the reply. 

A little later the hearing was brought to a close, 
and Mr. Norton and Yates were led away. The 
police authorities remained in Bayport to await the 
return of those who had gone in search of Avery. 
Ford and I went down to the dock and hired a man 
to take us over to the Bend. 

“ I would like to know just how much this Car- 
ney had to do with the affair,” I said as we were 
crossing. 

“Not much, I guess,” returned Ford. “He is an 
awfully ignorant fellow, and merely did what was 
told him in the shape of sailing the men where they 
wanted to go.” 

“I am inclined to think that way, Dan. But you 
can’t always tell about these matters. I trust that 
they will catch Avery and get back the Catch Me,” 
I continued. “I wouldn’t have that boat injured for 
a good deal.” 

“ No ; she is too fine a craft for that.” 

At the Bend, Ford and I separated ; and I lias- 


246 


REUBEN STONE’S DISCOVERY. 


tened along the road to the mill to assure myself 
that nothing had occurred during my absence. 

As I hurried on, I thought over the way Mr. Nor- 
ton had acted since he had come to the Bend, and 
I could not believe but that Mr. Markham was 
right, and that he was not my uncle at all. 

This thought gave me much satisfaction, hut there 
was a great deal in it to worry me. 

If Mr. Norton was an impostor, what of the let- 
ter he had written to me concerning my father’s 
death? Had my parent met his end in the manner 
described, or was it possible that my dear father was 
alive ? 

Fervently I prayed that such might be the fact, 
that my father might some day come back to me. 
The prayer brought a hope, and I walked along with 
a lighter tread after I had uttered it. 

Presently I passed the spot where Ford and I had 
captured Carney. The remembrance of the occur- 
rence brought to mind Mr. Norton’s valise and the 
letters that had been missing from it. In the rush 
of other events, this had slipped my mind ; but now 
I determined to make a search for the documents. 

I found the exact spot where Carney’s boat had 
been beached, and soon discovered his footprints in 
the soil near by. 

I had hardly got thus far, when I saw something 


A LUCKY FIND. 


247 


white on the ground just ahead. I rushed forward, 
and in a moment held in my hand the precious let- 
ters for which I was seeking. 

They were three in number, and bound around 
with an elastic. Why Carney had thrown them 
away without looking in them, I did not know; but 
later on found out that he could not read. 

I hastily opened one of the letters. It was short, 
and ran as follows : — 

New York, June 6. 

Dear Bixby, — 

Will be on hand in Chicago as soon as I can arrange with 
Avery. He will meet us at Bayport when desired. 

Martin Yates. 

The second letter was of more importance. 

Bayport, July 23. 

Dear Bixby, — 

Avery and I are here awaiting you. So are the diamonds. 
Why fool with that boy, even though his father is dead ! If you 
try to impersonate his uncle, even though he was your cousin, you 
may get into trouble, and I cannot see how it is going to benefit 
us much, except to afford some kind of a hiding-place if we get 
in a tight fix. Will be near the mill when wanted. 

M. Y. 

As I read this letter the tears sprang into my 
eyes. Then my father was really dead! It was a 
cruel thought, and one that so unnerved me that I 
could hardly read the third communication. 


248 


REUBEN STONE’S DISCOVERY. 


Bixby, — 

All is ready for the final move. Destroy this letter, so if 
you get caught we will not be known. I think you acted like 
a fool in going to the mill at all, there was so little money in 
the scheme; but you always were a queer stick. I intend to 
impersonate the boy during the evening. I have one of his old 
coats, also his cap. It will mix matters up and be the better for 
us. Carney does what he is told and don’t know any better. 
Watch Avery. He is rather soft and may back out. That boy 
is no fool, and if you get your fingers burnt it will be your own 
fault. M. Y. 

I folded up the letters and put them into my pocket. 
I had learned much from them. Norton Bixby was 
my real uncle’s cousin ; Yates had done me the injury 
of appearing in my coat during the evening at Bay- 
port, and raised the impression that I was in town; 
and my father was no more. 

I continued on my way slowly. So absorbed was 
I, that when I approached the mill I did not notice a 
stranger standing by the door, and when he spoke to 
me I started at his voice. 

“ Is this the Stones’ mill ? ” he asked. 

“Yes, sir,” I replied; “and I am Reuben Stone.” 

“ Indeed ! ” He looked at me in a kindly way. 
“ Give me your hand,” he went on ; “I am your 
uncle, Enos Norton, just arrived from the West.” 


A WELCOME ARRIVAL. 


249 


CHAPTER XXXII. 

A WELCOME ARRIVAL. 

I could hardly believe the evidence of my senses. 
This tall, well-dressed gentleman my uncle ! It was 
welcome news indeed. 

“You are my uncle?” I repeated slowly. 

“Yes. I haven’t been to the Bend in years; but 
you must have heard of me, Reuben?” 

“I have heard of you. But — but” — 

“ Where is your father ? ” 

“Father is dead.” 

“ What ! dead ! and I never heard of it ! How 
long since?” 

“Several weeks, I believe. I am not sure, sir.” 

“Not sure? Did he not die here?” 

“No, sir; he died in South Dakota, where he went 
to hunt for some good spot to locate a mill.” 

“Well, this is indeed news. I wish I had heard of 
it before. I just came from Chicago.” 

“ While you were there did you meet Norton 
Bixby?” I asked quickly. 

“Yes. But how do you know that?” 


250 REUBEN STONE'S DISCOVERY. 

“He is here now, under arrest.” 

“Indeed. Norton, I know, is a bad fellow. He is 
a second cousin on the Norton side.” 

“He came to the mill and introduced himself as 
Enos Norton, and said he had been appointed my 
guardian by my father, who had lost his life by fall- 
ing over a ravine. Now he is in jail for the robbery 
of a number of diamonds.” 

“ The rascal ! I know he has been in jail before in 
New York State. So he pretended to be myself. Reu- 
ben, you did not think much of your uncle, I guess.” 

“I must say I did not.” 

“I think you will find me a different sort of fellow. 
I just arrived on the stage-coach, and the driver did 
not tell me any of the news. I thought it rather 
queer to find the mill deserted, and was just on the 
point of starting for the Bend when you came along.” 

I invited my real Uncle Norton into the mill at 
once, and as he said he was somewhat hungry, I 
bustled around to get supper, meanwhile telling him 
of all that had occurred. 

“It sounds like a perfect romance,” he said, when 
I had finished. “I never dreamed that Nort would 
dare to do such a thing. I remember that he asked 
me much about the Bend ; but I thought it was 
only through curiosity. On the last day he was with 
me he borrowed twenty dollars.” 


A WELCOME VISITOR. 


251 


“Didn’t he know you might turn up here?” 

“Probably not. At the time we were together I 
was planning to go to New Mexico. He, no doubt, 
thinks I am there at this moment.” 

“He’ll be surprised to see you.” 

“No doubt. But such a thorough rascal as he 
has proved himself to be is better in jail than out 
of it. ” 

I soon had supper prepared, and my uncle sat 
down and ate heartily. I could not touch a mouth- 
ful. The rapid turning of affairs had completely 
unsettled me. 

“ We must have a talk with Nort to-morrow, and 
find out all the particulars of your father’s death,” 
went on my real uncle. “ I am not at all satisfied 
with the story he has told to you. If I remem- 
ber rightly your father was a very careful man.” 

He stopped suddenly, and then changed the sub- 
ject, asking me how I got along at the mill, and 
if business was good. 

“I came partly to offer your father an interest 
in a ranch I am on the point of buying in New 
Mexico,” he said, when I had related how matters 
stood. “ I know the Bend is a dull place, and I 
have got an opening where I think you would do 
very well.” 

“I would be glad to leave the Bend,” I replied. 


252 


REUBEN STONE’S DISCOVERY. 


“I think I could do better in some new and lively 
place.” 

My uncle gave a laugh. 

“ I don’t know as a ranch is such a lively place ; 
but it will give you a chance to make money.” 

“ Then that’s lively enough for me,” I returned. 

We spent the evening in getting acquainted. I 
found Mr. Norton a splendid, whole-souled man, and 
took to him immediately ; and I was glad to note 
that this feeling seemed to be reciprocated. 

On the following morning we started for Bend 
Center at an early hour. Almost the first person 
we met was Constable Pointer, who had just come 
over from Bayport. 

“What luck?” I asked. 

“We’ve got the diamonds!” he replied; “and 
the Catch Me too.” 

“You mean that you didn’t catch Avery?” 

“We caught him, but he gave Captain Harley the 
slip in Loadhead. We hope to get him to-day.” 

But I may as well add right here that Avery was 
never captured, nor was he ever heard from after 
that day. 

I introduced my uncle to Pointer, and also to 
Ford, who came up while we were talking. The 
mill-hand was highly pleased as well as astonished 
to meet the stranger. 


A WELCOME VISITOR. 


253 


“Good fellow, I guess,” he whispered to me. 
“ Beats the bogus Norton all to bits ! ” 

“You are right, Dan,” I returned. 

It did not take my real uncle long to pick up 
some old acquaintances, who soon recognized him. 
All wondered that they had been deceived, and they 
attributed it to the similar family appearance that 
was common to both men. 

Then we sailed over to Bayport, and made our 
way to the court-house. Judge Green was not yet 
present; but when the matter was explained, the 
jailer readily consented to allow Mr. Norton to in- 
terview the prisoner who had so misrepresented him- 
self. 


254 


REUBEN STONE’S DISCOVERY. 


CHAPTER XXXIII. 

A HAPPY ENDING. 

It will be needless to dwell upon Bixby’s aston- 
ishment when confronted by my uncle. He turned 
all sorts of colors. 

“I — I thought you were in New Mexico!” he 
gasped. 

“ I am glad I am not,” was my uncle’s reply. 
“ Now, Nort, I want you to make a clean breast 
of this whole matter.” 

“Will you help me in my case if I do?” he 
asked. 

“I certainly won’t help you if you don’t,” was 
the reply. “Tell me all; and I will see to it that 
you have a lawyer when your case comes to trial.” 

On the strength of this promise Norton Bixby 
told his story. It is too long to repeat here, but 
in substance was as follows : — 

After leaving the New York penitentiary he had 
gone West, and there fallen in with my father, and 
with him gone to South Dakota, getting my parent 
to pay the expenses. My father had really fallen 


A HAPPY ENDING. 


255 


over a ravine, and lay at the bottom dead. Bixby 
had run from the spot in horror, and had never 
gone near the corpse again. 

When he got back to Chicago he noticed my 
uncle’s arrival at one of the hotels through the 
newspapers, and he at once called upon him. Then 
came a letter from Yates, asking him to take a 
hand in the Bayport robbery; and knowing that Bay- 
port was close to Bend Center, he had concocted 
the scheme to appear upon the scene as my uncle 
and guardian. There was not much to be gained 
by it; but the idea had fascinated him, and he had 
c.arried it out as is known. 

“I was sure Enos had no intention of coming 
here,” he finished; “but I was mistaken.” 

“It is funny I didn’t get any word from my 
father during the time you were with him.” 

“He said he wasn’t going to write until he had 
good news. He was afraid of disheartening you.” 

“ And you never went back to bury him ? ” I 
went on, with a quiver in my voice. 

“No, I couldn’t. When he went over, he let out 
a scream that seemed to freeze the very marrow in 
my bones. For a moment T couldn’t move. At 
last I looked over the edge of the rocks, and I 
saw he was all crushed and bruised.” 

“ But he must have been alive.” 


256 


REUBEN STONE S DISCOVERY. 


“ Not much. That fall was all of a hundred feet 
and on the bare rocks. I would have gone down ; 
but it was such a lonely spot I got frightened, and 
simply ran away as hard as I could. That’s the 
plain truth.” 

And Norton Bixby wiped the cold perspiration 
from his forehead. 

I looked the man in the eyes, and could not help 
believe that in this particular the fellow spoke the 
truth. 

But in my heart how I wished he had returned 
and made sure that my father was really dead I 
There might have been a spark of life remaining, and 
if so, prompt treatment might have given him back 
to me. 

I bowed my head, and the tears began to well 
up in my eyes. Norton Bixby saw them, and turned 
away his head. 

Then the jailer appeared. 

“A man up-stairs wants to see you at once,” he 
said to me. 

“Who is it?” I asked, drying my eyes. 

“ Didn’t give any name, sir.” 

I went up to the court room. The man who 
wished to see me was standing near the door. I 
gave one look, paused to make sure that I was not 
dreaming, and then rushed forward and threw my- 
self into his arms. 


A HAPPY ENDING. 


257 


The new-comer was my father. 

“ Father ! ” 

It was the only word I could utter ; but how much 
it told ! 

“ Reuben ! ” he replied. 

“I thought you were dead,” I went on, after a 
long embrace. “Norton Bixby said so.” 

“I have been very near to death,” my father 
answered. “ You have heard how I fell from the 
top of a ravine to the bottom ? ” 

“Yes; Bixby just told the story.” 

“Well, I must have lain there for a long time 
unconscious ; for when I went down the sun was 
still shining, and when I came to all was dark. 

“And you were not hurt?” 

“Indeed I was. My left ankle was broken, and 
something was wrong in my chest, not to say any- 
thing of the scratches I received, which covered my 
face and hands with blood.” 

“And how did you escape?” 

“It is a long story. When I regained conscious- 
ness, I could not walk ; and it was hard work to 
crawl to the water to get a drink and bathe my ankle. 
I tried to call out ; but the pain was too great in my 
chest.” 

“ And you were all alone ? ” 

“ Yes ; and for three days. The pain was some- 


258 REUBEN STONE’S DISCOVERY. 

thing terrible; and that, added to the loneliness of 
my position, gave me a fever, and I lost my mind.” 

“ And who rescued you ? ” 

“ A hunter named Thompson, and two others. 
They told me two weeks after, when I was recov- 
ering, that they had found me delirious near their 
camp, and had taken me in and sent off for a doctor. 
They could not find out who I was, and had done 
the best they could for me.” 

“ And then you came on ? ” 

“ Yes, after writing you a letter ” — 

“I never received it,” I put in quickly. 

“ So I heard at the Bend this morning. Oh, my 
son, I cannot tell you how glad I am to be back 
with you once more ! ” 

“And I am glad, too, father,” I replied. “I trust 
we may never be separated again.” 

We shook hands warmly, and a moment later my 
uncle appeared. 

He was greatly astonished, but glad indeed to know 
that my father had had such a marvelous escape. 
Then Mr. Markham and Judge Green arrived, and all 
the stories were told over again. 

Later on my father went down to see Norton Bixby. 
I do not know what took place at the interview, 
but I think it must have done Bixby much good, 
for ever after that he seemed a better man. 


A HAPPY ENDING. 


259 


When court was called, Norton Bixby and Yates 
were bound over to await the action of the grand 
jury. As soon as this was done my uncle invited 
us all to dine at the hotel at his expense, and among 
the party were Mr. Markham and Ford. The latter 
nearly wrung my father’s hand off when they met. 

After we had satisfied the inner man, my uncle 
unfolded his plans to my father. Mr. Markham be- 
came interested, and as a consequence, the original 
plan was much enlarged. My father agreed to sell 
off his mill property as soon as it could be done, 
and then the three were to purchase a large tract of 
land, and form a company for the purpose of raising 
cattle. I may as well add that Ford was promised 
a job as soon as all arrangements could be made. 

The dinner mentioned above took place just six 
years ago. During the intervening time great changes 
have taken place. Norton Bixby and Yates were both 
sent to prison, the former for two and the latter for 
eight years. During that time Yates tried to escape, 
and as a consequence is still behind the bars. 

Bixby came out four years ago. He has changed 
for the better, and is a good man on the ranch, 
where he is well away from the temptations of the 
city. Carney was given a year in the penitentiary, 
and I don’t know what has become of him. 

The mill and the Catch Me were sold at good 


260 


REUBEN STONE’S DISCOVERY. 


prices, and then my father and I moved out to our 
new home. We have with us my uncle and Dan 
Ford, and we are not only happy, but we are like- 
wise getting rich. 

Mr. Markham and his family pay us a visit once 
a year, and he has not forgotten the promise made 
to further benefit me ; for on my twenty-first birth- 
day he presented me, in the name of his wife and 
son, with an eighth interest in the ranch, worth, at 
the lowest calculation, ten thousand dollars. 

I like my new home a hundred times better than 
the old. Here I am free from the sneers of all such 
men as Mr. James Jackson, and I have the satis-* 
faction of knowing that my work is going to accom- 
plish something. I have a swift pony, a fine dog, 
and a good gun ; I love my occupation — and all these 
things being so, what more is there to say but to 
bid my readers adieu? 


THE END. 


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